The Washington Declaration is a document released by representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France on August 30, 1914, at the start of World War I. The declaration committed the four countries to remain impartial and not intervene in the war between Germany and Austria-Hungary on one side and Russia, France, and the United Kingdom on the other. It also called for all belligerents to respect international law and to protect the rights of neutrals. There are two different types of Washington Declaration: The Washington Declaration of August 30, 1914, and the Washington Declaration of October 7, 1915, which was issued in response to the sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat. The former declared the four powers' commitment to remain neutral and not intervene in the war, while the latter reaffirmed the commitment and also called on Germany and Austria-Hungary to respect international law and the rights of neutrals.