(1854) Secret document written by U.S. diplomats at Ostend, Belg.
, describing a plan to acquire Cuba from Spain. On orders from U.S. secretary of state William Marcy , three U.S. diplomats
minister to Britain James Buchanan , minister to France John Y. Mason, and minister to Spain Pierre Soulé
devised a plan to purchase or, if necessary, seize Cuba for the U.S. Publication of the aggressively worded document, and Soulé's advocacy of slavery, caused Marcy to denounce it.