LAD/Blog #23: McKinley's War Message


Conflict arose in Cuba and the US understood that action needed to be taken. They sent a diplomat to Madrid negotiating with the Spanish, eventually getting them to adhere to their wishes. McKinley stepped in a delivered a speech directed to Congress why it was necessary to take military action.

Spain had been fighting in Cuba for years and the U.S had to come in and protect other islands from foreign control, things were getting out of hand. The US invested a lot of money into Cuba which was now at risk. The US were in a tough position as they wanted to maintain neutrality but couldn't let these incidents happen without some sort of action. McKinley would prefer to avoid war, favoring a non militaristic approach, favoring compromise. Neutrality talks are possible.


If the US must intervene, then there must be certain conditions
1.  Putting an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and horrible miseries now existing there, and which the parties to the conflict are either unable or unwilling to stop.
2. Protect citizens in Cuba to afford them that protection and indemnity (payment) for life and property
3. If American trade, commerce, and business has been destroyed and affected.
4. Spain's atrocities inflicted upon the US in many different means.

This is similar to Washington's ideology to maintain neutrality in foreign affairs, as McKinley favored peace rather than war. He favored diplomacy as would Washington.

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