The two countries were 'neutrals' while their neighbors were at war.
“Why did you do that?” he asked in a 'neutral' tone of voice.
He 'remained/stayed neutral' while his brothers argued.
(..) What? My potatoes. It's very tasty. Delicious. Want to know the secret? Arrange the meeting on neutral territory. Yes. It is necessary to put a small melted cheese in. To whom? Coccioli? I was talking about potatoes. (..)1981 To Kill a Cop