Final answer:
The Spanish likely viewed Guarionex as a means to an end, focusing on wealth and conversion to Catholicism, with a disregard for his legitimate authority and the wellbeing of native populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on historical records and Spanish objectives in the New World, it is likely that the Spanish viewed Guarionex, a native king, as a means to further their own ends rather than as a lawful ruler with legitimate authority. Spain's imperial pursuits were driven largely by the quest for wealth and the spread of Catholicism, often at the expense of native populations. The treatment of native peoples by the Spanish, as documented by figures such as Las Casas, and the indifference shown by King Philip II regarding the challenges faced by conquistadors and native people alike, suggest that Spanish regard for Guarionex would be instrumental rather than respectful. This assumption is supported by the Spanish belief in their right to the land and its people by conquest and the subsequent exploitation of both.