第一次世界大戰結束後，美國大多數民眾認為出席巴黎和會的戰勝國，多是為私利打算，坐地分贓。英法等國於戰後一則藉故拒絕清償美國債務，再則大量花錢擴張軍備。美國許多人對英法等國，因而感到不滿，也因而企圖重返孤立主義。
「光榮的孤立」（aplendor isolation），是美國傳統外交政策所標榜的口號，「避免捲入戰爭的漩渦」（keep us out of war），是美國民眾普遍的心理；受了上次參加第一次世界大戰的教訓，「決不再參戰」的觀念，更是深入人心。所以在歐洲危機日深的時侯，美國與論界乃有制定中立法的醞釀。一九三五年五月，義大利吞併阿比西尼亞的野心暴露後，曾在第一次世界大戰中指揮美國艦隊的石敏斯上將（Admiral W.S. Sims）發表演說，提出不捲入戰爭的有效辦法，主張探取商人自行處理政策，一切危險均由商人自行負責，國家不加以保護。這個辦法發表後，頗得輿論界好評。日後歐洲局勢日益嚴重，義阿之戰又有爆發的可能，英義的對立更是尖銳化，於是美國國會乃於八月二十四日通過一九三五年中立法，通稱第一中立法，也就是以後三份中立法的前身。這些中立法無非想藉限制美國人民經濟活動，來達到「避戰」的目的。
美國中立立法與國際中立法有關，美國外交政策的影響又大，筆者希望從研究中，能對美國中立措施有所認識，故選擇本題從事研究。
本文第二章敘述美國中立政策的背景、中立國和交戰國間權利義務的爭執，以及奈伊委員會越權調查美國參加第一次世界大戰的原因。
第三章到第六章，分別研究一九三五年第一中立法、一九三六年第二中立法、一九三七年第三中立法和一九三九年第四中立法，及其與國際法的關係，並且說明中立措施的動向、美國國會逐漸制定有利於同盟國的法律，以及中立措施的失敗。
最後一章是結論，廣泛檢討各章曾涉及的問題。
本論文寫作之所以能順利完成，主要是平日深受父母教誨，未敢怠忽。至於章節安排、資料取捨和文詞潤飾，指導教授陳院長治世均曾給予剴切深入的指點。其指導對筆者今後研究學問的方法，產生無法估計的影響，謹此誌謝。又蒙自本校政治研究所畢業的徐正明學長及法律研究所廖建台同學代為校閱，提供寶貴意見，並誌謝忱。
梁英賦謹識於政大外交研究所 中華民國六十五年六月二十日

A. TREATY MANUALS AND COLLECTIONS
Bevans, Charles I., Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America : 1776-1949, 16 vols. (Washington, 1969).
League of Nations Treaty Series (publication of treaties and international engagements registered with the League of Nation), 204. vols. (Geneva, 1920-1944).
Malloy, William M., Treaties, Conventions, International Acts, Protocols and Agreements between the United States of America and Other Powers, 1776-1927, 4 vols. (Washington, 1910-1936).
Pan American Union, Inter-American Treaties and Conventions, Signatures, Ratifications, and Deposits with Explanatory Notes (Washington, 1957), (Treaty Series 9).
United States Treaty Series, 944 numbers (Washington, 1908-1945).
B. OTHER DOCUMENTS
Department of State, Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938,1939,1940, Supplements (Washington, G.P.O., 1928-1951).
Department of State, Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States , The Lansing Papers, 1914-1929, 2 vols.( (Washington: G.P.O., 1940).
Naval War College, International Law Documents :Neutrality, Breaking of Diplomatic Relations and War with Notes (Washington : G.P.O., 1918).
Naval War College, International Law Situations with Solutions and Notes (Washington : G.P.O., 1929).
C. MONOGRAPHS
諸坤，美國中立法向題的檢討，東方雜誌，第三十七卷（一九三九年）
Adler, Selig, The Isolationist Impulse (New York, 1957).
Beard, Charles A., American Foreign Policy in the Making 1932-1940 : A Study in Responsibilities (Archon Books : 1968).
Borchard, Edwin and William P. Lags, Neutrality for the United States (New Haven, 1940).
DeConde, Alxander, ed., Isolation and Security (Durham, N,C., 1957).
Divine, A. Robert, The Illusion of Neutrality (Chicago, 1962).
“Editorial Comment on the Appointment of Mr. Robert Lansing as Counselor of the Department of State, “ American Journal of International Law, VIII (1914 ), 336-338.
Einstein, “ The United States and Anglo-German Rivalry, “ The National Review, LX (January, 1913), 736-750.
Foster, H. Schuyer, Jr. “How America Became Belligerent;. A Quantitative Study of War News, 1914-1917,” American Journal of Sociology, (January, 1935 ), 464-476.
Garner, James Wiford, International Law and the World War (London and New York : Longmans, Green & Co., 1920). 2 vols.
-------, “Violations of Maritime Law by the Allied Powers during the World War,” American Journal of International Law, XXV (1931), 26-49.
Guichard, Louis. The Naval Blockade, transl. by C. R. Turner (New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1930). 321 pp.
Langer, William L., and S. Everett Gleason, The Challenge to Isolation : 1937- 1940, 2 vols. (New York, 1952).
Osgood, Robert E., Ideals and Self-Interest in America’s Foreign Relations: The Great Transformation of the Twentieth Century (Chicago, 1964).
D. GENERAL WORKS
丘宏達主編，陳治世、陳長文、俞寬賜及王人傑等，現代國際法（台北，一九七三年）。崔書琴，國際法，二冊（台北，一九五四年）。
雷崧生，國際法原理，二冊（台北，一九七○年）。
Adams, Henry, History of the United States : During the Administration of Jefferson Madison ( New York, 1970 ).
Bailey, T. A., Diplomatic History of the American People, 7th ed. (New York, 1964.).
Baker, R. S., Woodrow Wilson and World Settlement, 3 vols. (Garden City, 1922).
Bemis, S. F., A Diplomatic History of the United States, rev. ed. (New York,1942).
Bishop, W. W., International Law: Cases and Materials, 2d ed. (Boston, 1962). Cited Cases.
Brierly, J. L., The Law of Nations, 4th ed. (1949), 5th ed. (1955), 6th ed. (new York, 1963).
Briggs, H. W., The Law of Nations: Cases, Documents and Notes, 2d ed. (New York, 1952). Cited Cases.
Davis, G. B., The Elements of International. Law, 4th ed. revised, by
G. E. Sherman (New York, 1916).
Deak, F. and Jessup, P. C., A Collection of Neutrality Laws, Regulations and Treaties of Various Countries, 2 vols. (Washington, 1939).
Diplomatic Correspondence with Belligerents Relating to Neutral Rights and Duties, Department of State (Washington, 1915-1918).
Drummond, Donald F., The Passing of American Neutrality 1937-1941 (Ann Arbor, 1955).
Ellis, L. Ethan, A Short History of American Diplomacy (New York, 1951).
Emeny, B., The Strategy of Raw Materials (New York, 1934).
Engelbrecht, H. C., and Hanighen, F. C., Merchants of Death: A Study of the International Armament Industry (New York, 1934).
Fenwick, C. G., The Neutrality Laws of the United State (Washington, 1913).
--------, International Law (New York, 1965).
--------, Cases on International Law, 2d ed. (Chicago, 1951).
--------, American Neutrality ; Trial and Failure (New York, 1940).
--------, The Organization of American States , The Inter-American Regional System (Washington, 1963).
Fox, Dizon Ryan and Arthur M. Schlessinger ( ed. ), A History of American Life, 12 vols. Completion of Independence : 1790-1830 ( New York, 1961 ).
Friedmann, Wolfgang G., Oliver J, Lissitzyn and Richard Crawford Pugh, Cases and Materials on International Law (St. Paul, Minn,, 1969).
Garner, J. W., International Law and the World War, 2 vols. (New York, 1920).
Glabn, Gerhard Von, Law Among Nations : An Introduction to Public International Law (New York, 1967).
Gould, W. L., An Introduction, to International Law (New York, 1957).
Hackworth, G. H., Digest of International Law, 8 vols. (Washington, 1940- 1944).
Hall, W. E., A Treatise on International Law, 8th ed., by A. P. Higgins (Oxford, 1924).
Higgins A. Pearce and C. John Colombos, The International Law of the Sea (London, 1945).
Hyde, C. C., International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied by the United State, 2d ed., 3 vols. (Boston, 1945).
Jessup, P. C., The Law of Territorial Waters and Maritime Jurisdiction (New York, 1927).
Kelsen, H., Principles of International Law (New York, 1966).
Latane, J. H., A History of American Foreign Policy (New York, 1927).
Leonard, L. Larry, Elements of American Foreign Policy ( New York, 1953 ).
Leopold, Richard W., The Growth of American Foreign Policy (New York, 1962).
Loon, Hendrik Van, The Story of America (Greenwich, Connecticut, 1959).
Moore, J. B., A History and Digest of the International Arbitrations to which the United States Has Been a Party, 6 vols. (Washington, 1898).
--------, A Digest of International Law, 7 vols. and index vol. (Washington, 1906).
Morrison, Samuel Eliot and Henry Steele Commager, The Growth of the American Republic, 2 vols. (New York, 1962).
Neutrality: Its History, Economics and Law, vol. I: The Origins, by P. C. Jessup and F. Deak; vol. II: The Napoleonic Period, by W. A. Phillips: vol. III: The World War period, by E. Turlington; vol. IV: Today and To-Morrow, by P. C. Jessup (New York, 1935-1936).
Nevis, Allan and Henry Steele Commager, A Short History of the United State (New York, 1966).
Oppenheim, L., International Law, 8th ed. by H. Lautepacht, Vol. I (New York, 1955); 7th ed. of vol. II by H. Lauterpacht (London, 1952).
Piggot, Sir F, T., The Freedom of the Seas (Oxford, 1919).
Pratt, J. W., History of the United States Foreign Policy (New York, 1955).
Rauch, Basil, Roosevelt from Munich to Pearl Harbor (New York, 1950).
Rhodes, J. F., History of the United States, 8 vols. (New York, 1910-1919).
Rules of Land Warfare, 1940: War Department Basic Field Manual (Washington, 1940).
Schwarzenberger, G., International Law, Vol. I, International Law as Applied by International Courts and Tribunals (London, 1945).
--------, Manual of International Law, 4th ed., 2 vols. (London, 1960).
Shen, Mo, International Law of Peace, War and Outer Space (Taipei, 1968).
Smith, Daniel M., Robert Lansing and American Neutrality 1914-1917(New York, 1972).
Sohn, L. B., Cases and Materials on World Law (Brooklyn, 1950).
Starke, J. G., An Introduction to International Law, 5th ed. (London, 1963).
Thommen, J. K., Legal Status of Government Merchant Ships In International Law (The Hague, 1962).
Tucker, R. W., The Law of War and Neutrality at sea (Washington, 1957).
Westlake, J., Chapters on the Principles of International Law (Cambridge, 1894).
--------, International Law, 2d ed., Part I, Peace; Part II, War (Cambridge, 1910-1913).
Whiteman, M. M., Digest of International Law, Vol.1, Vol. 2 (1963), Vol. 3 (1964).
Williams, B. H., Economic Foreign Policy of the United States (New York, 1929).
Wilson and Tucker, International Law (Silver Burdett: 9th ed. ).
Wilson, G. G., Handbook of International Law, 2d ed. (St. Paul, 1927).
--------, International Law, 9th ed. (New York, 1935).
E. CASES
Judicial Decisions Involving Questions of International Law, The Appams Case, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 9 (1915).
United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp., 299 U.S. 304 (1936).
F. DICTIONARIES & ENCYCLOPEDIA
Black’s Law Dictionary
Encyclopedia of American History
Harper Encyclopedia of the Modern world
C. ARTICLES
Borchard, Edwin, “Neutrality,” Yale Law Review, Vol. 48:37 (1938).
Brown, Philip Marshall, “Malevolent Neutrality, “ American Journal of International Law, Vol. 30 (1936).
Bryan, W. J., “American Neutrality, “ American Journal of International Law, Vol. 9 (1915).
Deak, Francis, “The United States Neutrality Acts : Theory and Practice ”, International Conciliation, No. 358 (1940).
Dulles, Allen W., “Cash and Carry Neutrality”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 18 (1940).
Dulles, Allen W. and Hamilton Fish Armstrong, “Legislating Peace,” Foreign Affairs, Vol. 31 (1937).
Dumbauld, Edward, “Neutrality Laws of the United States”, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 31 (1937).
Eagleton, Clyde, “ The Duty of Impartiality on the Part of A Neutral, “ American Journal of International Law, Vol. 34. (1940).
--------, “Revision of the Neutrality Act”, American Journal of International Law Vol. 33 (1939).
Fenwick, C. G., “Neutrality and Responsibility”, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 29 (1935).
Garner, James Wilford, “The United States Neutrality Act of 1937”, American Journal of International Law, 31 (1937).
--------, “The United States Neutrality Law of 1937”, The British Yearbook of International Law, (1938).
--------, “Recent Neutrality Legislation of the United States,” The British Yearbook of International Law, (1936).
Jessup, Philip C. “The Neutrality Act of 1939,” American Journal of International Law, (1940).
--------, “ The New Neutrality Legislation,” American Journal of International Law, Vol. 29 (1935).
Pittman, Key, “The Policy of Neutrality, “ Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, Vol. XVII (1937).
Scott, James Brown, “ Foreign Enlistments in the United States” , American Journal of International Law, Vol. 12 (1918).
Warren, Charles, “Safeguards to Neutrality”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 14(1936).
--------, “ Troubles of a Neutral “, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 12 (1934).
Wright, Quincy, “Repeal of the Neutrality”, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 36 (1942).
--------, “The Power to Declare Neutrality Under American Law, “ American Journal of International Law, Vol. 34 (1940).
--------, Rights and Duties under International Law“, Rights and Duties under International Law, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 34. (1940).