As a means of enforcing the obligations of neutrality it is customary for States to pass statutes defining the duty of their subjects in relation to other nations at war and imposing penalties for their violation. These statutes are popularly known as neutrality lutes. They do not affect the international responsibility of the State. however, and their inefficiency cannot be pleaded in extenuation of a failure to fulfill neutral obligations.
The neutrality laws of the States are chiefly in the acts of 1794, ISIS. and 1S3S. They declare it to be a misdemeanor for any citizen to accept or exercise a commission for the purpose of serving a foreign Power in war with a State at peace with the l'nited States, or to enlist or induce another person to enlist or engage ldm to go abroad to enlist in the foreign service of such a State; or to fix out, arm. equip, the force of any armed vessel with the intent that it shall he employed in the service of a Power at war with a friendly State; or to institute within the territory of the United States any military expedition against any such Power. The President of the States is
empowered to compel any foreign vessel which ought not to remain in the territorial waters of the United States to depart therefrom and to enforce the observance of the neutrality laws in general. One of the chief purposes of this legis lation is to prevent organized efforts to secure the enlistment of troops by belligerents in neutral territory. Neutral governments, however. can not he held responsible for the unorganized and unauthorized departure of individual citizens for the purpose of enlisting in a foreign army. The manufacture and sale of contraband of tear ex cept in the ease of ships fitted for warfare is not expressly prohibited by the neutrality laws of either Great Britain or the United States. See INTERNATIONAL LAW. and the authorities there cited; also ALABAMA CLAIMS; CONTRABAND OF WAR: DECLARATION OF PARIS: WAIL