Source: The Proclamation of
Neutrality (1793)
By The President of the
United States
A Proclamation
Whereas it appears that a
state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the
United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and
interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good
faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerant Powers; I have therefore thought fit by these
presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct
aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and warn the
citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings
whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition.
And I do hereby also make
known, that whatsoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself
liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing,
aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said Powers, or by carrying
to any of them those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage
of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States, against such
punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those
officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against
all persons, who shall, within the cognizance of the courts of the United
States, violate the law of nations, with respect to the Powers at war, or any
of them.
In testimony whereof, I have
caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these
presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city
of Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of April, one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the
seventeenth.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
April
22, 1793