Objective/context:

The article examines the traces of documentation of the possible invitation of France to the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama in 1826. This invitation is unknown to most historians due to the scarce documentary evidence. To carry out our inquiry, we consulted the set of available clues: diplomatic correspondence; primary sources; documents from the period; types of diplomatic operations; the identity of the Colombian agent likely to have sent the invitation and the profile of the person supposedly proposed to represent the French government.

Originality:

Most of the studies available ignore this episode in the relations between France and Latin America during the first years of Independence. Even some of the most influential historians deny its possibility. To our knowledge, this article is the first in systematically analyze the invitation to France while considering a variety of documents and records from Europe and America.

Methodology:

The research was guided by a historiographical approach, which was based on an exhaustive search of the sources.

Conclusions:

The article argues that the invitation did indeed take place as an offer, and that the rejection of the French prime minister was motivated by his alliance with the Government of Spain. Likewise, the way the invitation was handled drove the French Government to seek neutrality in the War of Independence. This attitude was indirectly shown by the fact that Franch approached Great Britain to mediate the conflict.

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