Who might Spain sell the Rio de Oro to?

In 1898, following their defeat in the Spanish American War, Spain tried to sell Rio de Oro [modern Western Sahara] to Austria Hungary, but Hungary blocked the sale. WI spain tried to sell it to someone else? Who might they choose; France, Britain, Germany, maybe even Italy?
 
In 1898, following their defeat in the Spanish American War, Spain tried to sell Rio de Oro [modern Western Sahara] to Austria Hungary, but Hungary blocked the sale. WI spain tried to sell it to someone else? Who might they choose; France, Britain, Germany, maybe even Italy?

I would guess France given their proximity to the area and Morocco might try and appeal to France to get the area for themselves...
 
I would guess France given their proximity to the area and Morocco might try and appeal to France to get the area for themselves...

That's what I was thinking to, an addition to French Morocco, just wanted to see if any other nations were likely
 
What would have happened if Austria-Hungary had bought Rio de Oro? What impact would it have had?
Austria-Hungary accepting Spain's offer to a huge swaths of land with no resources other then fishing? Probably not, I would see Germans taking it since they wanted to expand through Africa I believe so, even with the Morrocan Crisis, the Germans wanted Morroco.
 
Austria-Hungary accepting Spain's offer to a huge swaths of land with no resources other then fishing? Probably not, I would see Germans taking it since they wanted to expand through Africa I believe so, even with the Morrocan Crisis, the Germans wanted Morroco.
The Austrians were all for it actually, the Hungarians prevented the sale from going through though.

Source:https://books.google.com/books?id=O...KHa_wDHg4ChDoATAAegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q&f=false

The next potential buyer would probably be Germany, but I am sure there is a reason the Spanish either did not offer it to them or the Germans did not take it, which I am just not aware of. (Germany bought Spain’s Pacific Islands and almost got the Philippines)
 
Germany wanted a West African Port, so it makes sense that they'd purchase it.

France might go for it to box out the Germans.

Italy may buy it out of envy colonially-speaking.
 
During the Spanish American War settlement the US would probably have pounced on buying it. Two years before or after that war the US wouldn't have even considered it.
 

raharris1973

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Hungary was such a party-pooper for Austrian expansion plans from the Ausgleich through 1914.

It's tragic Hungary did not also veto the Bosnian annexation and the war on Serbia :(
 
Italy would have had a hard time trying to scrape the money needed at the time. Also, it's just after Adowa, when willingness about colonial ventures was minimal. Sounds unlikely. France looks more realistic. I don't why Germany wasn't offered the area, but they are very likely to be interested in the event too.
And that would add to Franco-German tensions, I think.
 
Italy would have had a hard time trying to scrape the money needed at the time. Also, it's just after Adowa, when willingness about colonial ventures was minimal. Sounds unlikely. France looks more realistic. I don't why Germany wasn't offered the area, but they are very likely to be interested in the event too.
And that would add to Franco-German tensions, I think.
If Germany buys Rio de Oro (and they might well do that, unless the British and the French pose a hard veto), the Moroccan crisis would risk to escalate a lot.
It might be lucky for Morocco, however, since it is quite possible that the Franco-German rivalry might end up preserving its independence, a la Siam.
 
If Germany buys Rio de Oro (and they might well do that, unless the British and the French pose a hard veto), the Moroccan crisis would risk to escalate a lot.
It might be lucky for Morocco, however, since it is quite possible that the Franco-German rivalry might end up preserving its independence, a la Siam.

This is an interesting concept, does anyone else have ideas on it? For example, would Spanish Morocco still arise in such a world where Morocco is independent?
 
This is an interesting concept, does anyone else have ideas on it? For example, would Spanish Morocco still arise in such a world where Morocco is independent?
Most likely there would be no Spanish Morocco if there is not a formal French protectorate over the rest of the country.
It would be more likely to have a set of Capitulations imposed on a formally independent Morocco, and possibly Tangiers might become a free port, under the formal sovereignty of the sultan but effectively governed by the Powers.
 
The Austrians were all for it actually, the Hungarians prevented the sale from going through though.

Source:https://books.google.com/books?id=O...KHa_wDHg4ChDoATAAegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q&f=false

The next potential buyer would probably be Germany, but I am sure there is a reason the Spanish either did not offer it to them or the Germans did not take it, which I am just not aware of. (Germany bought Spain’s Pacific Islands and almost got the Philippines)

thanks. now i have to buy the book to read the end of the sentence.
 
During the Spanish American War settlement the US would probably have pounced on buying it. Two years before or after that war the US wouldn't have even considered it.

Doubtful, given otherwise OTL conditions; the Philippines were enough of a violation of the Monroe Doctrine as it is, and don't see why they US would expand into Europe's direct shadow rather than bargain for more of the Pacific Islands. Not saying that it's impossible, as I've speculated on it before, but it takes more than a single PoD at that point in time.
 
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