Klaus Gallo examines the early nineteenth century relationship between Great Britain and the Rio de la Plata, a period that represents a crucial point in the transformation of this area of South America into the independent state of Argentina. He highlights the initial ambiguities of British aims, with the government entertaining both conquest and military aid, Gallo shows how the relationship survived this confusion and became much stronger once the Spanish colony gained independence in 1810. He unravels the tangled foreign policy implications for Britain, particularly in terms of its alliance with Spain, that ultimately led to its recognition of Argentina as a sovereign state.

Autorentext

KLAUS GALLO is Professor of History at the Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements Introduction The River Plate Viceroyalty William Pitt and South America: The Emergence of the River Plate as a New Focus of British Attention The British Invasions of the River Plate The Ministry of All the Talents and the River Plate Invasions: Spanish and Creole Attitudes to the British Invasions Lord Strangford, Independence and the London Missions Berardino Rivadavia and the British Attitude towards Recognition Great Britain and the Recognition of the River Plate Conclusions Bibliography Index