The Alabama claims controversy with England continued to hold the public attention until finally settled by the Geneva Arbitration in 1872.

President Grant, as much of an expansionist as Seward, for two years (1869-71) tried to secure Santo Domingo or a part of it for an American naval base in the West Indies.

But the United States had race problems enough already and the Senate, led by Sumner, refused to sanction the acquisition.

Relations with Spain were frequently strained on account of American filibustering expeditions to aid Cuban insurgents.

Spain repeatedly charged the United States with laxness toward such violations of international law; and President Grant, seeing no other way out, recommended in 1869 and again in 1870 that the Cuban insurgents be recognized as belligerents, but still the Senate held back.