48 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
48 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
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, Sar-
|
||
dinia, 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 respectful-
|
||
ly; 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 hos-
|
||
tilities 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 forfei-
|
||
ture; 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
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
France declared war against Great Britain and Holland early in April, 1793.
|
||
President Washington called a special cabinet meeting, which resulted in this
|
||
declaration of neutrality.
|
||
|
||
--------------------
|
||
|
||
Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300)
|
||
|
||
|