MY RELATION WITH THE OAS

The Organization of American States had its origin in the creation of the independent Latin American republics.   

In 1818, I said:  “...we, for our part, shall hasten with the most lively interest to initiate consideration of an American pact, which, forming all our republics into a single body politic, will present America to the world in an aspect of majesty and grandeur unexampled among the nations of antiquity.  America thus unified, if Heaven grant our desire, may be called the queen of nations and the mother of republics”.  

In 1826, I called several representatives of the newly created American Republics to meet in Panama, planning to organize in that Congress an American league of states.  Such a league would have as its primary purpose mutual defense against Spain or any other foreign power.  But it would also be the nucleus of a federal nation of the world.   As our republics became separate political entities, our cultural heritage inevitably continued to bring our countries together.   

Years later, the descendants of the English, Scotish, Irish, Scandinavian and German colonists of the North found themselves in contact with our countries, descendants of the Spanish and Portuguese colonists of the South.  These peoples with completely different backgrounds and heritage were in communication with each other through their activities in the field of commerce.

Inspired by my ideals, the government of the United States made an invitation to the First Conference held in Washington, D.C. in 1889-1890.  The creation of the International Union of American Republics, which later will became the Organization of American States, was the result of that conference.