I suspect international courts (if such existed with any real potency back then) would frown on the legality of the USA declaring war upon a nation state aquiring the colonial possession of another nation in a reasonably legal purchase. On the otherhand, if Germany takes it from Spain by force then I doubt people would be paticually shocked if the USA intervenes.
Would you have considered it legal for Britain or Japan to declare war upon the USA for taking the Philippines? Both nations could probably have claimed it was in their sphere and they were suffering encroachment. Britain could certainly have argued Alaska was in their sphere, would you consider a declaration of war over it legal?
Would you have considered it legal for Britain or Japan to declare war upon the USA for taking the Philippines? Both nations could probably have claimed it was in their sphere and they were suffering encroachment. Britain could certainly have argued Alaska was in their sphere, would you consider a declaration of war over it legal?