No selfish interest, no personal ambition, no political campaign, can sway the majority will of our people of America to make America strong, and to keep America free.
America is rising to meet the evergrowing need for an adequate, physical armed defense of the United States.
It is ordered that Chapter XXII of the Foreign Service Regulations of the United States be amended as follows:
Preparation for defense is an inalienable prerogative of a sovereign state.
This is not inconsistent in any sense with our status of peace.
Then, as now, considerations of safety from overseas attack were fundamental.
The value to the Western Hemisphere of these outposts of security is beyond calculation.
For these reasons I have taken advantage of the present opportunity to acquire them.
These are real places.
Of course there was no mutuality in the Monroe Doctrine.
The right to bases in Newfoundland and Bermuda are gifts-generously given and gladly received.