The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-12
NEUTRALITY
PROCL AIMED
President Roosevelt Issues His
Proclamation
Warming All Citizens of the
Existence of War.
DUTY POINTED OUT.
Must Not Enlist While on
American Soil
For Military or Naval Service
With Either Belligerent.

Whereas, "A state of war unhappily
exists between Japan on the one side
and Russia on the other side; and
Whereas. The United States is on
terms of friendship and aInity with
both the contending powers, and with
persons inhabiting their several do
minions; and
Whereas, There are citizens of the
United States residing within the ter
ritories or deminions of each of the
said belligerents, and carrying on COM
merce, trade or other business or pur-
suits therein, protected by the faith of
treaties; and
Whereas, There are subjects of each
of the said belligerents residing within
the territory or jurisdiction of the
United States, and carrying on COM
merce, trade or other business pursuits
therein; and
Whereas, The laws of the United
States, without interfering with the
free expression of opinion and sympathy
or with the open manufacture and sale
of arms or munitions of war, neyerthe-
less impose upon all persons who may
be within their territory and jurisdic-
ton the duty of impartial neutrality
during the existence of the contest;
and
Whereas, It is the duty of a neu-
trail government not to permit or suffer
the making of its waters subservient to
the purpose of war:
Now, therefore I, Theodore Roose-
welt, president of the United States of
America, in order to preserve the neu-
trality of the United States and of it's
citizens, and of persons within its ter
ritory and jurisdiction and to enforce
its laws, and in order that all persons,
being warned of the general tenor of
the laws and treaties of the United
States in this behalf, and of the law of
nations, may thus be prevented from
unintentionaI violation of the same, do
hereby declare and proclaim that by
the act passed on the goth day of April,
A D., 1918, commonly known as the
Neutrality law the following acts are
forbidden to be done, under severe pen
atty, within the territory and jurisdic-
ton of the United States, to-wit:
"One-Accepting and exercising a
commission to serve either of the said
belligerents by land or by sea against
the other belligerent.
''Two-Enlisting or entering into the
service of either of the said belliger-
ents, as a soldier, or as marine, or
seaman on board of any vessel of war,
letter of marque or privateer.
tThI ee-Hiring or retaining another
person to enlist or enter himself in the
service of either of the said belligerents
! as soldier, or as a marine, or seaman
on board of any vessel of war, letter
of marque or privateer.
"Four-Hiring another person to go
the United States with intent to be
! enlisted as aforesaid.
"F'ive-Hiring another person to go
beyond the limits of the United States
with intent to be entered into service
as aforesaid.
"Six-Retaining another person to go
/ beyond the limits of the United States
with intent to be enlisted as aforesaid.
"Seven-Retaining another person to
go beyond the limits of the United
! 4n he iY1fn IA
of aforesaid.
''CBut the said act is not to be con
strued to extend to citizen of either
belligerent who. being transcendently
within the United States shall. on
| board of another vessel of war which
at the time of its arrival within the
United States was fitted and equipped
| as such vessel of war, enlist or enter
himself or hire or retain another sub
1 iect or citizens of the same belligerent
who is transcendently within the Uni
ted States to enlist or enter himself to
serve such belligerent on board such
vessel of war if the United States shall
then be at peace with such belligerent
power).
"Eight-Fitting out and arming, or at
tempting to fit out and arm, or pro-
curing to be fitted out and armed, OF
| knowingly being concerned in the fur
nishing, fitting out or arming of any
ship or vessel with intent that ship OF
vessel shall be employed in the service
of either of the belligerents.
"Nine-Issuing or delivering a COM
mission within the territory or Jurfs-
diction of the United States for a ship
or vessel to the intent that she may be
employed as aforesaid.
''Ten-IncreaSing or augmerfting, OF
procuring to be increased or augmented
or knowingly being concerned in in
| creasing or augmenting the force of any
ship of war, cruiser or other armed YES
sell which at the time of her arrival
within the United States was a ship OF
war cruiser, or armed vessel in the
service of either. by adding to the mum
Der of guns of such vessels or by
changing those on board of her for guns
of larger ealiber or by the addition
thereto of any equipment solely appli-
cable to war.
MISUNDERSTANDING or setting on foot
or perpetrating means for any military
expedition or enterprise to be carried or
from the territory or jurisdiction of the
/ United States against the territory OIL
dominion of either of the said belliger-
ents.
"And I do hereby further declare an6
proclaim that any frequenting and use
of the waters within the territorial juris
diction of the United States by the
armed vessel of either belligerent
whether public ships or privateers, fol
the purpose of preparing for hostil,
operations or as posts of observa tio1
upon the ships of war or privateers OF
merchant vessels, of the other belliger
ents lying within or being about to en-
ter the jurisdiction of the United States
must be regarded unfriendly and of
fensive and in violation of that neutral
ity which it is the determination of thi
government to observe; and to the ems
that the hazard and inconvenience o
such apprehended practices may b
avoided, 1 further proclaim and decIaF
that from and after the 18th day o
February instant, and during the con
tinuance of the present hostiIitieS be
| tween Japan and Russia, no ship of wa
or priyateer of either belligerent shal
be permitted to make use Of any port