BRITISH PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (MAY 13, 1861)

            On this date, May 13, 1861, during the American Civil War, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights.

Queen Victoria

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British proclamation of neutrality in the American Civil War  (1861)
by Victoria of the United Kingdom

Whereas we are happily at peace with all sovereign powers and States:

And whereas hostilities have unhappily commenced between the Government of the United States of America and certain States styling themselves the Confederate States of America:

And whereas we, being at peace with the Government of the Unites States have declared our royal determination to maintain a strict and partial neutrality in the contest between the said contending parties:

We therefore have thought fit, by [and with] the advice of our privy council, to issue this our royal proclamation:

And we do hereby strictly charge and command all our loving subjects to observe a strict neutrality in and during the aforesaid hostilities, and to abstain from violating or contravening either the laws and statutes of the realm in this behalf or the law of nations in relation thereto, as they will answer to the contrary at their peril.

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Victoria R
13 May, 1861