United States Recognizes the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
1823-01-27
As Spain's former colonies became independent states, Washington considered the danger of European intervention and the opportunities for trade. In 1823, British proposals for a joint warning against intervention prompted debate in President James Monroe's cabinet. [1]
Caesar Augustus Rodney presented his credentials in Buenos Aires on 27 December 1823, establishing an American diplomatic mission there. His appointment the previous January had already signaled recognition of the government. [2]
Washington had maintained neutrality during the former Spanish provinces’ struggle for independence. In March 1822, President James Monroe asked Congress to support recognition of those that had secured it, pointing to Buenos Aires’s declaration of 1816 and arguing that Spain could no longer reverse the outcome. The United States was preparing to exchange representatives with the governments that emerged from the struggle. [3]
Argentina’s own political settlement took longer. Division between Buenos Aires and the Argentine Confederation forced the American mission to move to Paraná in 1857. It returned to Buenos Aires in February 1862 after national reunification, almost four decades after recognition. [2]
American envoy James Peden later carried credentials to both Buenos Aires and the Argentine Confederation while they had competing governments. [2]
Sources
- Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Opening discussion of European intervention fears, recognition of new Latin American states, and the Canning–Adams disagreement over a joint declaration
- Argentina: recognition and diplomatic relations — Office of the Historian
Recognition and diplomatic relations, 1823; interruption, 1944; resumption, 1945
American Mission Moved to Parana, 1857: Peden's commissions and credentials to Buenos Aires and the Confederation; return in 1862
- Monroe’s message on recognition of the new American states
Assessment of independence, prior neutrality, and request for appropriations
Related Reading
Cite This Article
United States Recognizes the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record 29da0c77330c64924cb0. https://chanceries.org/research/history/argentina-recognition-2a981dbdcc/