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as we ourselves possessed, and on equal terms. It had never rightfully implied the assumption of 
 
any political control by us over our neighbors. At this moment, I was glad to say, a new 
 
relationship existed in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine existed, and would 
 
continue to exist, but only in its true interpretation, and it was now reinforced by the unification of 
 
all the American Republics in the common policy of considering any menace from abroad to the 
 
peace of any one Republic as a menace to the peace of them all. The United States was an equal 
 
partner in a partnership of twenty-one partners.
 
          If, consequently, the Minister desired to use the term Monroe Doctrine" as synonymous 
 
with the term "sphere of influence", whether political or economic, he should find some more 
 
accurate synonym.
 
          Finally, I said I would, of course, regard it as in-- appropriate to comment upon the 
 
remainder of the Minister's exposition. That would be outside the scope 
 
of my mission.
 
          I believe, however, that if a war of devastation  now took place all that civilization held 
 
most dear, all the remaining material and social structure of Europe,  would be in great part 
 
destroyed. The loss of lives would be appalling. No country on earth would remain 
 
unaffected, and the United States as the most powerful neutral, would suffer every term of 
 
repercussion upon her own social, commercial and financial structure.   It was for that reason that 
 
my Government  hoped most earnestly, while there was still time, that there might still exist the 
 
way towards some durable and just peace. The President of the United States had officially stated 
 
last year, as the Minister knew, that if the way to a just political peace could be found by the 
 
nations directly concerned, of which the United States was not one, my Government