AHC: McKinley Administration leaves PI alone, but takes some or all Spanish Micronesia?

raharris1973

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....in the Spanish-American War, of course.

In retrospect, US leaders regretted annexing the Philippines as early as Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, because of its distant, exposed geographical position and the political complications inherent in pacifying millions of people who wanted to be independent.

Now TR and other expansionists of 1898 did think gaining some territory in the western Pacific was important for asserting American interests in East Asian trade.

Could the American leaders have regarded getting the Spanish Marianas, with the the islands of Saipan and Guam, as "close enough" to help show the flag in the western Pacific and East Asian waters, without taking up the burdens of administering so many people and so much land?

Alternatively, could the Spanish Pacific fleet have been somewhere else besides Manila or the Philippines leading to to any Pacific battles between the US and Spain, far from the archipelago, possibly leading to far less American interest in the islands?
 
....in the Spanish-American War, of course.

In retrospect, US leaders regretted annexing the Philippines as early as Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, because of its distant, exposed geographical position and the political complications inherent in pacifying millions of people who wanted to be independent.

Now TR and other expansionists of 1898 did think gaining some territory in the western Pacific was important for asserting American interests in East Asian trade.

Could the American leaders have regarded getting the Spanish Marianas, with the the islands of Saipan and Guam, as "close enough" to help show the flag in the western Pacific and East Asian waters, without taking up the burdens of administering so many people and so much land?

Alternatively, could the Spanish Pacific fleet have been somewhere else besides Manila or the Philippines leading to to any Pacific battles between the US and Spain, far from the archipelago, possibly leading to far less American interest in the islands?
What about Andres Bonifacio surviving and America supporting the Philippine revolution, that is the best POD, Andres Bonifacio will be supported by Americans and agrees to a protectorate agreement but parts of the Philippines i.e Visayas and Mindanao might end up being sold to other colonizers.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
What about Andres Bonifacio surviving and America supporting the Philippine revolution, that is the best POD, Andres Bonifacio will be supported by Americans and agrees to a protectorate agreement but parts of the Philippines i.e Visayas and Mindanao might end up being sold to other colonizers.

Why is Bonifacio getting along better with the Americans and Spain is selling islands, not him, right?

Are those islands in rebellion? If so, why would any country buy them, at least at “full price”?
 
Why is Bonifacio getting along better with the Americans and Spain is selling islands, not him, right?

Are those islands in rebellion? If so, why would any country buy them, at least at “full price”?
No americans get the rebelling areas(luzon) for free as a protectorate like cuba.

Bonifacio has better support than the traitor Aguinaldo.
 
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