STUDIES IN THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S CARIBBEAN POLICY

by

Milo Edward Teska

A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

1927

Chapter I

CUBAN RECIPROCITY

For years the United States had watched the chaotic conditions in Cuba, and now and then had offered a word of remonstrance or advice which generally went unheeded by both Spain and Cuba. Early in 1898 conditions became such that it was deemed advisable to send the Battleship Maine to Havana to protect American interests. On February 15, 1898 the vessel was destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin. Spain was blamed for the catastrophe, and this coupled with the famous Dupuy de Lome letter insulting President McKinley so aroused American sentiment that war became inevitable.

1

President McKinley's message of April II, 1898, "was commonly regarded as a war message, and in Congress the only serious debate had to do with the form that the action should take and the immediate effect of it upon the lives and safety of Americans in Cuba". Congress delayed action

until all Americans had time to get within reach of safety.

2

I.

Frederic L. Paxson, Recent History of the United States (New York, 1922) pp. 235-237.