In 1793, Revolutionary France declared war against Great Britain and all of Europe. This put America in a bind, the United States had won the War of Independence largely through military and support of France. But this was before the revolution and the United States had no interest in the war. Among his cabinet members, Hamilton and other aristocrats had no sympathy for the revolution, but Thomas Jefferson who saw it as a revolution of the people, did. At this same time, the new French ambassador Edmond-Charles Genêt, also known as Citizen Genêt arrived on American shores. Washington consulted his cabinet with two pressing questions. Should he issue a proclamation of neutrality, or should he receive Genet and risk angering Great Britain. In April of 1793, Washington decided to take the middle ground and did both. He signed the Proclamation of Neutrality act, and received Genet (as shown in picture).
Edmund-Charles Genêt though did not respect the proclamation and tried to circumvent Washington's authority by enlisting American popular support for France. Citizen Genêt provoked rabid, pro-French mobs and demonstrations in support of the French revolution. Some even just outside Washington's executive mansion. By August of that same year, Genêt's insulting attempt to circumvent Washington was made public and the cabinet unanimously requested France for his recall.
In his 1793 address, President Washington explained his reasoning behind the Neutrality Act and admonished Americans regarding the consequences of disobeying it.
"As soon as the war in Europe had embraced those powers with whom the United States have the most extensive relations there was reason to apprehend that our intercourse with them might be interrupted and our disposition for peace drawn into question by the suspicions too often entertained by belligerent nations. It seemed, therefore, to be my duty to admonish our citizens of the consequences of a contraband trade and of hostile acts to any of the parties, and to obtain by a declaration of the existing legal state of things an easier admission of our right to the immunities belonging to our situation. Under these impressions the proclamation which will be laid before you was issued."This Neutrality had become a pillar of foreign American foreign policy for decades.
The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793
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 belligerent 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
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29435
http://firstinpeace.org/?page_id=252
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h453.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Neutrality
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Edmond-Charles_Gen%C3%AAt.png
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