José de San Martín and his Links with the Diplomatic Lawyers of the Río de la Plata: Personal Relationships, Epistolary Exchanges, and International Negotiations (1812-1850)

Abstract

San Martín’s performance under the orders of the Directory, was subject of criticism. He was constantly questioned by federalist lawyers. After the fall of the Directory, and during his exile in Europe, he kept in contact with those same lawyers, now dedicated to diplomacy. They kept him informed about the political situation in the Río de la Plata, although he remained neutral about it. It was not until the second rule of Juan Manuel de Rosas in Buenos Aires when he showed his willingness to intervene. This aspect has not received sufficient attention by historiography, but only referenced briefly sometimes. Therefore, within the framework of this investigation about the role and activity of the lawyers, as public official scholars of the province, the question rises to examine what such links were based on and how they were politically redefined between the Directory and the rosismo. For this purpose, the main sources used will be San Martín's correspondence with some of these lawyers, such as Manuel Moreno, Manuel de Sarratea and Felipe de Arana.