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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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