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In 1852 France and Great Britain, fearful of the filibustering expeditions against Cuba and the possible future favor of the United States toward such expeditions, suggested a tripartite convention in which each should disclaim all intention to obtain possession of Cuba and should discountenance such intention by another power. October 9, 1854, the American Ministers to Great Britain, France and Spain, James Buchanan, John Y. Mason and Pierre Soule, met at Ostend and drew up the " Ostend Manifesto." This declared that a sale of Cuba to the United States would be advantageous to both governments; but that if Spain refused to sell, it was incumbent upon the Union to " wrest it from her," rather than see it Africanized like San Domingo.