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
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