However, the Confederation generated resistances among several groups in both countries that resented the dilution of national identities and by neighbouring countries. Many Peruvian politicians opposed to the idea of the Confederation fled to Chile, where they received support and this led to the War of the Confederation Chile declared war on December 28, 1836, and Argentina followed suit on May 9, 1837. The Chilean military expedition against Santa Cruz, led by Admiral Manuel Blanco Encalada, failed and had to submit to the signature of the Treaty of Paucarpata, on November 17, 1837.