212.The NeutralityProclamation ,1793
Washington and his advisers had a very difficult question to settle . For the Treaty of
1778 with France ( p .115) gave to French ships the use of United States ports in war time , and closed those ports to the enemies of France . The treaty might also oblige the United States to make war on Great Britain in order to pre - serve the French West India Islands to France . It was quite certain , at al events , that if French warships were allowed to use American ports , and British waships were not allowed to do so , Great Britain would speedily make war on the United States . The treaty had been made with the King of France . Could it not be set aside on the ground that there was no longer a French monarchy ? Washington at length made up his mind to regard it as suspended , owing to the confusion which existed in France . He there - fore issued a Proclamation of Neutrality . In this proclamation he warned all citizens not to aid either of the fighting nations . It was in this way that Washington began the policy of keeping the United States out of European conflicts
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