Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "the Americas could decide for themselves whether, when, and where their interests were attacked or their security threatened" means that the countries in the Americas have the right to make their own decisions about how to respond to any attacks or threats to their security. This implies that the countries in the Americas have the power to determine when and where they should intervene to protect their interests and security. This statement was made in the context of World War II, when the United States was asserting its position as a defender of freedom against the totalitarian regimes of Germany and Japan. It was a declaration of the United States' commitment to protecting its own interests and security in the face of external threats.