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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
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.
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