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State to observe the duties of neutrality and warn its nationals of the penalties they would incurfor joining or assisting a belligerent State. 34Although the practice of issuing formal proclamations of neutrality has declined, Stateshave continued to make public statements of neutrality to indicate their national policy and legalstatus in relation to an armed conflict. 35 States may also communicate their neutral statusthrough diplomatic channels or use other means they deem appropriate.15.2.2 Qualified Neutrality. The United States has taken the position that certain dutiesof neutral States may be inapplicable under the doctrine of qualified neutrality.54 STAT. 2629 (“AND I do hereby give notice that all nationals of the United States and others who may claim theprotection of this government, who may misconduct themselves in the premises, will do so at their peril, and thatthey can in no wise obtain any protection from the government of the United States against the consequences of theirmisconduct.”); Woodrow Wilson, Proclamation, Aug. 18, 1914, 38 STAT. 2015 (“Whereas the United States is infact aware of the existence of a state of war between Belgium and Germany; And Whereas the United States is onterms of friendship and amity with the contending powers, and with the persons inhabiting their severaldominions;”); George Washington, Proclamation of Neutrality, Apr. 22, 1793, reprinted in 32 THE WRITINGS OFGEORGE WASHINGTON FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT SOURCES 1745-1799, 430-31 (1939) (“Whereas it appearsthat a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, on the onepart, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerityand good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial towards the belligerent powers: I have thereforethought fit by these presents, to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towardsthose powers respectively; and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts andproceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition. And I do hereby also makeknown, that whosoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeitureunder the law of nations, by committing, aiding or abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or by carryingto any of them, those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive theprotection of the United States against such punishment or forfeiture; and further that I have given instructions tothose officers to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall, within thecognizance of the Courts of the United States, violate the law of nations, with respect to the powers at war, or any ofthem.”).34 1956 FM 27-10 (Change No. 1 1976) 514 (“When war occurs, neutral States usually issue proclamations ofneutrality, in which they state their determination to observe the duties of neutrality and warn their nationals of thepenalties they incur for joining or assisting a belligerent.”).35 For example, FINAL REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF WAR 626 (“Iran and Jordan each issued proclamations ofneutrality during the Persian Gulf crisis and, as described, refrained from active participation in the war.”); RonaldReagan, Written Responses to Questions Submitted by Al-Qabas of Kuwait, May 12, 1987, 1987-I PUBLIC PAPERSOF THE PRESIDENTS 529 (“The United States is neutral in the Iran-Iraq war.”); Jimmy Carter, Situation in Iraq andIran: Remarks Concerning the Conflict, Sept. 24, 1980, 1980-81-II PUBLIC PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS 1921, 1922(“Let me repeat that we have not been and we will not become involved in the conflict between Iran and Iraq.”);Royal Government of Laos, Statement of Jul. 9, 1962, reprinted in Burma, Cambodia Canada, People’s Republic ofChina, Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam, etc., Declaration on the Neutrality of Laos, Jul. 23, 1962, 456 UNTS 301,302-03 (“The Royal Government of Laos, Being resolved to follow the path of peace and neutrality in conformitywith the interests and aspirations of the Laotian people, as well as the principles of the Joint Communiqué of Zurichdated June 22, 1961, and of the Geneva Agreements of 1954, in order to build a peaceful, neutral, independent,democratic, unified and prosperous Laos, Solemnly declares that: … (4) It will not enter into any military alliance orinto any agreement, whether military or otherwise, which is inconsistent with the neutrality of the Kingdom of Laos;it will not allow the establishment of any foreign military base on Laotian territory, nor allow any country to useLaotian territory for military purposes or for the purposes of interference in the internal affairs of other countries,nor recognise the protection of any alliance or military coalition, including SEATO;”).935