On 18 August 1914, amidst the escalating tensions and widespread conflict engulfing Europe, US President Woodrow Wilson issued his "Proclamation of Neutrality."
This declaration aimed to keep the United States out of the growing maelstrom of World War I.
Wilson urged American citizens to remain impartial in thought and deed, emphasising the importance of staying clear of entanglements in foreign disputes.
The proclamation reflected Wilson's belief that the US should serve as a beacon of peace, mediating rather than participating in the conflict that was rapidly consuming the world.
