This treaty ended the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata, restoring British-Argentine relations after failed military intervention.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 24 November 1849
- Formal name
- Convention for the perfect restoration of friendly relations
- Parties
- United Kingdom and Argentine Confederation
- Trigger
- Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata
- Rivers in dispute
- Paraná and Uruguay rivers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In the late 1840s, the Argentine Confederation sought to regulate navigation on the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, disrupting British and French trade access to landlocked Paraguay. In response, Britain and France imposed a military blockade on the Río de la Plata to force Argentina to open the rivers to foreign commerce.
Although Anglo-French forces achieved military victories against Argentine units during the blockade, these successes proved largely pyrrhic. Both powers ultimately withdrew their forces and negotiated settlements. The Arana–Southern Treaty, signed on 24 November 1849, formally ended hostilities between the Argentine Confederation and the United Kingdom.
The treaty restored friendly diplomatic relations between Argentina and Britain and marked a de facto British recognition that Argentina held legitimate authority over its internal waterways. France concluded a similar agreement shortly thereafter, signaling the failure of European coercive intervention in Argentine affairs during this period.
Political Outcome
Peace restored between the Argentine Confederation and the United Kingdom; Anglo-French blockade lifted and Argentine river navigation authority acknowledged.
Anglo-French military blockade pressuring Argentina to relinquish control of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers
Argentine Confederation retained river navigation authority; European powers withdrew forces