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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 Powersrespectfully; 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
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