Document 27.2.1
As Mussolini prepared to invade Ethiopia in the summer of 1935, American legislators, fearing the outbreak of a new world war, passed the first of a series of Neutrality Acts.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That upon outbreak or during the progress of war between, or among, two or more foreign states, the President shall proclaim such fact, and it shall thereafter be unlawful to export arms, ammunition, or implements of war from any place in the United States, or possessions of the United States, to any port of such belligerent states, or to any neutral port for transshipment to, or for the use of a belligerent country.
The President, by proclamation, shall definitely enumerate the arms, ammunition, or implements of war, the export of which is prohibited by this Act.
The President may, from time to time, by proclamation, extend such embargo upon the export of arms, ammunition, or implements of war to other states as and when they may become involved in such war....