Great Britain and the recognition of the River Plate

Abstract

The recognition of Argentine independence was granted by the British government in early 1825. The Liverpool Ministry, which was in power in Britain at that time, was thus responsible for becoming the first European nation to recognize the independence of this South American Nation. However, this recogni tion was almost entirely due to the Foreign Minister, George Canning. This Minister, who took Office in 1822, took a more liberal line in foreign affairs which enabled his country to break away from the conservative principles of Metternich's European concert. From this moment onwards Britain adopted a more favourable position towards the the acceptance of emancipation movements in both Europe and Spanish America. The River Plate Provinces, future Argentine Republic, had been considered as one of the most progressive of the recently emancipated Spanish American Colonies by the British government. This was mainly due to sorne of the liberal policies adopted by Rivadavia, the most influential minister of the River Plate government since the early 1820's. However, recognition by Britain of River Plate independence, which seemed inminent once Canning appeared on the scene, took a few more years than expected to materialize. their were complicated technicalities that had to be resolved.