Treaties to recognise the Spanish American independence

Throughout the 19th century Spain made treaties of peace and recognition with each of the states established from its former colonies in Spanish America. The process was long drawn out, only being completed in 1904.

Background

After the Cortes of Cádiz – which served as a parliamentary Regency after Ferdinand VII was deposed – was established in 1810, many Spanish Empire territories decided to declare independence. When Ferdinand VII returned to the throne, he refused to accept these declarations and promised that he would retake all the territories, by force if necessary. There were diplomatic negotiations during the Trienio Liberal (1820-1823) but they were quashed by the return of absolutism. Ferdinand VII died in 1833, ending all military projects to reconquer Spanish America. In 1834 the Regnant Queen Isabella II of Spain decided that times had changed, that a more modern approach was needed, and started consulting other members of her government. On December 16, 1836 the Congress of Spain issued a decree authorizing the Spanish Government to renounce its territorial and sovereign claims over its domains in continental Americas, by concluding treaties with each of the states of Spanish America. Throughout the 19th century Spain made treaties of peace and recognition with each of newborn states. The process was less conflictive than the government thought, but several diplomatic hurdles meant that 68 years passed until the last treaty was signed.[1]

Chronology

The table lists the signing dates, not the ratification dates.

Treaties to recognise the Spanish American independence

Year	Date	Country	Hispanic Americans	Spain
1837	November 14[1]	Mexico	President José Justo Corro plenipotentiary Miguel Santa María	Queen María Cristina de Borbón, Queen consort of Spain, widow of Fernando VII plenipotentiary José María Calatrava
1841	[1]	Ecuador	President Juan José Flores plenipotentiary Pedro Gual	Queen María Cristina de Borbón, Queen consort of Spain, widow of Fernando VII plenipotentiary Evaristo Pérez de Castro
1845	[1]	Chile	President Manuel Bulnes plenipotentiary José Manuel Borgoño	Queen Isabella II of Spain plenipotentiary Luis González Bravo
1846	[1]	Venezuela	President Carlos Soublette plenipotentiary Alejo Fortique	Queen Isabella II of Spain plenipotentiary Ramón María Narváez Plenipotentiary Francisco Martínez de la Rosa
1850	[1]	Costa Rica	President Juan Rafael Mora Porras plenipotentiary Felipe Molina	Queen Isabella II of Spain Cabinet council Ramón María Narváez plenipotentiary Pedro José Pidal
1851	[1]	Nicaragua	Presidente Norberto Ramírez plenipotentiary José de Marcoleta	Queen Isabella II of Spain cabinet council Ramón María Narváez plenipotentiary Pedro José Pidal
1855	[1]	Dominican Republic	President Ignacio María González plenipotentiary Manuel Joaquín Delmonte	President del Poder Ejecutivo de la República Española Francisco Serrano Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Práxedes Mateo Sagasta plenipotentiary Juan Gutiérrez de la Concha
1861	February[1][notes 1]	Bolivia	President José Ballivián plenipotentiary José María Linares	Queen Isabella II of Spain plenipotentiary Joaquín Francisco Pacheco
1864	[1]	Guatemala	President Rafael Carrera y Turcios plenipotentiary Felipe del Barrio Larrazábal	Queen Isabella II of Spain Cabinet Council and plenipotentiary Manuel Pando Fernández de Pinedo
1863	September 21[notes 2]	Argentina	President Bartolomé Mitre plenipotentiary Mariano Balcarce	Queen Isabella II of Spain plenipotentiary Manuel Pando Fernández de Pinedo
1866	[1]	El Salvador	President Francisco Dueñas plenipotentiary Juan Víctor Herrán	Queen Isabella II of Spain Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Leopoldo O'Donnell plenipotentiary Manuel Bermúdez de Castro y Díez
1879	August 14[1][notes 3]	Peru	President Mariano Ignacio Prado plenipotentiary Juan Mariano de Goyeneche y Gamio	King Alfonso XII of Spain Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Arsenio Martínez-Campos plenipotentiary El I marqués de Molins
1881	[1]	Colombia	Presidente Rafael Núñez Chancellor and plenipotentiary Luis Carlos Rico	King Alfonso XII of Spain Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Antonio Cánovas del Castillo plenipotentiary El I marqués de Molins
1882	[1][notes 4]	Paraguay	President Cándido Bareiro plenipotentiary Carlos Saguier	King Alfonso XII of Spain Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Antonio Cánovas del Castillo plenipotentiary Francisco Otín y Mesía
1882	[1][notes 5]	Uruguay	President Lorenzo Batlle plenipotentiary Adolfo Rodríguez	Regente del Reino Francisco Serrano Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Juan Prim plenipotentiary Carlos Creus y Camps
1894	November 17[1]	Honduras	Presidente Policarpo Bonilla plenipotentiary José Diego Gámez	Regente Maria Christina of Austria Queen consort of Spain Presidente del Consejo de Ministros Práxedes Mateo Sagasta plenipotentiary Julio de Arellano
1903	[1]	Cuba		Spanish possession until the Spanish–American War. It remained under the control of the United States until May 1902, when it became independent. Diplomatic relationships were established, but no formal treaty was signed.[1]
1904	May 10[1][notes 6]	Panama		King Alfonso XIII of Spain President of Cabinet Council Antonio Maura

Notes

1. Signed in July 21, 1847, but internal instability in Bolivia prevented its ratification until 1861
2. First peace treaty in June 24, 1829, followed by a distancing. In 1845 Spain tried to reestablish relationships, but was unsuccessful until April 29, 1857 when they signed a peace treaty and a consular treaty. They were modified with a July 9, 1959 treaty. Disagreements between the Argentine Confederation and Buenos Aires prompted new negotiations, and normal relationship were not established until the 1863 treaty (Pereira, 2004)
3. A preliminary peace treaty had been signed in January 27, 1867 (Pereira, 2004)
4. Paraguay asked that part of an article was removed, it referred to the reclamations of the subjects of both states. (Pereira, 2004)
5. A treaty was signed in 1841, but it was not ratified and it caused great instability. A new treaty was signed in March 26, 1845, but was replaced by a new treaty in 1846. In June 25, 1870 a consular treaty was signed. In July 19, 1870 the definitive treaty was signed, but it was not ratified until 1882. (Pereira, 2004)
6. Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903. This is the date of the recognition of Panama by Spain. (Pereira, 2004)

References

1. Juan Carlos Pereira Castañares (November–December 2004), "Establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas Argentina, Paraguay y Uruguay" (PDF), Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos (in Spanish), Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (653–654)

See also

• Hispanic America