Guayaquil conference
The Guayaquil conference was an interview that took place on July 26, 1822, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, between Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar, to discuss the future of Peru (and South America in general).
San Martin's hold on Peru was faltering when he turned to Bolivar for help: by all appearances, Bolivar would be entering Peru with his army, and conflict between the two would (especially before the Spaniards) have been “a humiliating scandal” (San Martin's words). So San Martin arrived in Guayaquil on July 25, where he was enthusiastically greeted by Bolivar. However, the two men could not come to an agreement, despite their common goals and mutual respect, even when San Martin offered to serve under Bolivar. The interview was a short one, and there were no witnesses . It is thought that one of the causes for divergence was that Bolivar was committed to the idea that the new states of South America should remain republics, whereas San Martin wished to call upon a European prince to rule there. The meeting, consequently, was a failure, at least for San Martin.
San Martin, after meeting with Bolivar for several hours on July 26, stayed for a banquet and ball given in his honor. Bolivar proposed a toast to “the two greatest men in South America: the general San Martin and myself” , whereas San Martin drank to “the prompt conclusion of the war, the organization of the different Republics of the continent and the health of the Liberator of Colombia .
After the conference, San Martin abdicated his powers in Peru and returned to Argentina. Soon afterward, he left South America entirely and retired in France. Bolivar completed the liberation of Peru.
The Guayaquil conference inspired a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, Guayaquil, in which he explores the possible psychological relation between San Martin and Bolivar.
See also
South American wars of independence
Simon Bolivar
Jose de San Martin
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