He need not have done so; all of the men in the room were acutely aware that the convening boards of the three previously held Latin American scientific congresses had drawn an exclusive perimeter around their minions, not even bothering to invite U.S. representatives. “For the first time,” Root reminded the gathered scientists, “under the influence of the new Pan-American entente, an all-American congress is to be held, and it is very desirable that we should contribute our fair share and that the work which you do and the associations which you form should contribute toward the establishment of permanently good relations and continue the work of doing away with the misapprehensions, jealousies, and suspicions which have so largely influenced the views entertained for this country in some of the Latin-American countries.”