First International Conference of American States Convenes
The First International Conference of American States, held on October 2, 1889, in Washington, D.C., marked a significant moment in the pursuit of cooperation among nations in the Western Hemisphere. This gathering, often referred to as the Pan-American Conference, brought together representatives from nearly all American nations, excluding Canada and the Dominican Republic. The conference aimed to foster dialogue on mutual interests and address international concerns, reflecting a long-standing desire for collaboration that dates back to Simon Bolívar's call for unity in 1826.
Despite previous attempts at forming alliances and engaging in discussions, including a failed congress in Panama and various meetings in the mid-1800s, this conference was the first comprehensive effort that included the United States. Over the course of more than six months, delegates engaged in extensive discussions, resulting in the establishment of the International Union of American Republics, which later evolved into the Pan-American Union.
The conference laid the groundwork for future hemispheric cooperation, leading to subsequent Pan-American conferences and ultimately contributing to the establishment of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948. Key topics addressed included sanitary regulations, intellectual property rights, and trade, showcasing the diversity of interests among the participating nations. This historical event symbolizes an early commitment to fostering diplomatic ties and collaboration in the Americas.
First International Conference of American States Convenes
First International Conference of American States Convenes
On October 2, 1889, the First International Conference of American States convened in Washington, d.c. At this first Pan-American Conference, as the gathering was more commonly known, representatives from all of the nations of the Western Hemisphere except Canada and the Dominican Republic came together for the first time. The meeting marked the start of an effort toward true international cooperation in the Americas.
Plans for the nations of the Western Hemisphere to discuss matters of common interest originated as early as 1826, when Simon Bolívar, the South American liberator, invited all the nations of North America and South America to the Congress of Panama. However, it was a failure and adjourned even before the American delegation arrived. Representatives of Latin American countries met several times in the mid- and late-19th century to discuss possible alliances in the event of foreign attack and to deliberate on various aspects of international law. The United States did not take part in these conferences either. In 1881, however, during the brief administration of President James A. Garfield, Secretary of State James G. Blaine invited delegates from the nations of the Western Hemisphere to a meeting to consider ways of “preventing war between the nations of America.” The conference that was scheduled for 1882 did not take place due to international difficulties in Latin America and domestic problems in the United States, but interest in a hemispheric meeting soon revived.
In 1888 President Grover Cleveland instructed his secretary of state, Thomas Bayard, to invite the nations to a Pan-American conference. Ironically, when the gathering convened on October 2, 1889, James G. Blaine was again secretary of state, appointed by the new president, Benjamin Harrison. The delegates to the first Pan-American Conference met for more than six months, undertook a railroad tour of the United States, and listened to countless speeches. Since most of the countries of Latin America had strong economic ties with Europe, the representatives rejected a plan for a customs union with the United States that Blaine proposed. However, on April 14, 1890, they agreed to create the International Union of American Republics, an information clearinghouse based in Washington, d.c., which later became the Pan-American Union. The delegates to the conference also approved a number of recommendations involving sanitary regulations, patents and trademarks, and other matters. Most significantly, they established a precedent for later hemispheric cooperation that resulted in the holding of seven other Pan-American conferences between 1901 and 1938, culminating in the formation of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948. The charter of the OAS was the product of the ninth Pan-American Conference (officially the Ninth International Conference of American States) which met at Bogotá, Colombia, from March 30 to May 2 of that year.