3. If either of the High Contracting Parties become entangled in a
war with one or more other powers, the other of the High
Contracting Parties will at least observe toward the power so
entangled a benevolent neutrality, and use its utmost endeavor for
the localization of the conflict.

4. The duty of neutrality which arises from the preceding article
has no application in so far as it may not be reconcilable with
existing agreements which the High Contracting Parties have
already made. The making of new agreements which make it
impossible for either of the Contracting Parties to observe
neutrality toward the other beyond what is provided by the
preceding limitations is excluded in conformity with the
provisions contained in Article 2.

Anxious as I was to agree with the Chancellor, who seemed as keen as I
was to meet me with expressions which I might take back to England for
friendly consideration, I was unable to hold out to him the least
prospect that we could accept the draft formula which he had just
proposed. Under Article 2, for example, we should find ourselves, were
it accepted, precluded from coming to the assistance of France should
Germany attack her and aim at getting possession of such ports as
Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne, a friendly occupation of which was so
important for our island security. Difficulties might also arise which
would hamper us in the discharge of our existing treaty obligations to
Belgium, Portugal, and Japan. The most hopeful way out was to revise the
draft fundamentally by confining its terms to an undertaking by each
Power not to make any unprovoked attack upon the other, or join in any
combination or design against the other for purposes of aggression, or