George
Washington -
Proclamation of Neutrality -
April 22, 1793
George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality was designed to keep
America out of further wars. In the early 1790's Europe was at war. The
sides consisted of Great
Britain and its allies on one hand and France on the other. Americans
were divided in their loyalties. Many supported the French cause
because they considered the French resistance to be similar to their
own fight during the Revolutionary War. Others were on England's side.
George Washington was President at this time and he was trying to hold
the new nation together. He believed that if they got involved in the
European war, on either side, it could mean destruction to the United
States through division or bringing the war to American shores.
Consequently, he chose a position of neutrality, which he maintained
throughout his presidency. He believed that America should not get
entangled in the internal affairs of other nations and issued this
Proclamation of Neutrality to state the position of his government.
George
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
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.
