Central America and Peru during the Pacific War: The work of the Peruvian legation (1879–1881)

The research examines the relationship that the Peruvian legation established in Central America, in order to meet the objectives of the foreign policy outlined in the midst of the Pacific War (1879-1884). The legation, directed by Tomás Lama between 1879 and 1881, proposed a policy of rapprochement with Central American countries to achieve military objectives (obtaining weapons) and public diplomacy (information management), especially with Costa Rica and Guatemala. The work undertaken by Lama was fruitful until his agreements with presidents Tomás Guardia and Rufino Barrios were revealed in 1881, which produced a protest from the Chilean Foreign Ministry due to the alteration of neutrality. This study will review unpublished information from the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru and the National Library of Peru.