Washington acknowledged that by all appearances, a state of war existed in Europe. On one side stood Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, United Netherlands. On the other side stood France.
President George Washington declared neutrality for the United States and warned citizens of the consequences if they aided or abetted them in any way.
"I have thought it fit to declare the disposition of the United States . . . to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States to carefully avoid all acts and proceedings which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition.
"I hereby make it known . . . that whosoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of the nations, by committing, aiding or abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or by carrying to any of them articles deemed to be contraband . . . will not receive the protection of the United States against such punishment or forfeiture. I have given instructions to the officers . . . 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 the nations with respect to the powers at war, or any of them."
Though the word "treason" was not mentioned, the wording of the consequences leads one to believe that it was the intention.
- April 22, 1793: Proclamation of Neutrality
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comment