As owner of the canal and professed guardian of its use, the United States was bound to consider its own strategic relation to this sea into which the canal opened.
Gradually the situation which existed in 1898 has changed.

Spain has been removed from the Caribbean.

Of her former possessions the United States holds Porto Rico; Cuba is independent, but is in a way under the protection of the United States, which possesses on her coast the naval station of Guantanamo.

The American treaty with the new republic of Panama practically created another American protectorate, and the fortification of the canal gave the United States another strategic position.

The negotiation for the purchase of the Danish islands has been completed successfully.