Chassériau, Benoît | A clandestine mediation between Spain and Colombia

Chassériau, Benoît

4 documents by Chassériau relating to his unofficial mission in Colombia (1823–1824), comprising: manuscript copy of the instructions of minister François-René de Chateaubriand ("Copie des instructions qui m'ont été remises par Son Excellence Monseigneur le Vicomte de Chateaubriand, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères le 25 novembre 1823" ), 25 November 1823, 8 pages; a report on the state of Colombia in 1822 ("Etat de Colombia, aperçu de la situation de la République de Colombia, sous les rapports politiques, économiques et commerciaux à la fin de 1823"), 4 pages; personal notes started on 1 January 1823, explaining the necessity of thwarting the recognition of Colombia by the United States, 7 pages; and a draft of an essay, "L'assassinat par motif public, peut-il être permis?,” 19 May 1826, 13 pages

François-René de Chateaubriand, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, sent Chassériau in Colombia to ensure the mediation of France between Spain and the new state of Colombia. This mission was not recognized officially by France since it could have compromised France’s relationship with Spain.

REFERENCES

See William Spence Robertson, France and Latin-American Independence (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1939)