I have always been intrigued by this portion of WWI. It was the days of the dead heat btwn the Triple alliance and the Entente in 1917. For the Germans the situation was getting worse with chronic shortages of food, and other material. US entry into the war on the entente side was going to be a final nail in the coffin for the Germans. With American sentiment after the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and numerous other such incidents the anti-Germanic hysteria had taken over. But that was simply not enough to justify a commitment to the war effort in Europe. It was still seen as Europe's war. In April 1917 the Foreign minister of the Reich sent a telegraph to Mexico City proposing some very interesting proposals.


"On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.

You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.

Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.

Zimmerman"

(Sent January 19, 1917)

Now we all know obviously that this plot did not come to fruition for the Reich in 1917, frankly it sealed its fate because the Americans were able to successfully intercept the memo and commit to the war effort. But let's assume that the memo was not intercepted and Mexico accepted the request. How would have war faired on the American continent? Mexico was obviously significantly weaker then the Americans in every which way, economically, industrially, and politically. But with heavy German support, and with the unknown role of Japan (possibly attacking the Americans in the Pacific?) how would have the US faired? What would have been the aftermath of such a war? Could Germany feasibly have won WWI by diverting one million men from the eastern front to the Western Front, and not deal with the "dough boys?” Would England have capitulated by Germany's USW? I don't doubt the US would have won against Mexico but a "what if?" is more then called for.

the Americans were able to successfully intercept the memo and commit to the war effort.

Actually, the British intercepted it and waited about 5 weeks to release it to the Americans, hoping to maximize the effect of anti-German sentiment.

I don't know what Mexico could have done. At the time the telegram was sent Mexico was just coming out of a bitter civil war. Carrana had as yet to consolidate his power. There was no constitution, the country was in chaos, and Zapata was still a serious problem. And I doubt Germany could have provided any real support. She was not going to get war materials to the Mexicans. After Jutland, the High Seas fleet wouldn't even put to sea, much less any merchant ships. Between the Royal navy and the US Navy, the Germans weren't going to be able to aid the Mexicans. JMO.

I don't know what Mexico could have done.

Let's assume that Mexico did do something, irregardless of its strength. With the treaty of Versailles spreading to the American continent. What could have occurred? An American occupation of Mexico, or an American annexation of Mexico? Considering prior to 1917 the US had been expanding her "empire" throughout the region, in Central America, and the Caribbean, also in the Pacific which was beginning to threaten Japanese interests in the Pacific. Now how would Mexico start a war? I am not sure; I am not good on Mexican history at all. I am aware that there was a civil war in Mexico that changed the face of Latin America at the time, I believe a peasant revolution not unlike that of Mao's in China with land re-distribution. So the political situation in Mexico was fragile at best. Also I think the US did have military overtures in Mexico prior to WWI as well, which did sour relations. The whole point of this was to prevent America getting into the war in Europe, would that have succeeded? I think so, considering that Germany did not threaten the homeland and Americans would have been ignorant of the role Germany played. The UK was not in a good position with the U-boats, and the blockade. She was beginning to show the strain of such a long sustained effort of merciless killing, and destruction of so much tonnage. If the Germans were able to neutralize the French and British by March 1918 with their last relevant offensive, and got an armistice with them (along with Brest-Livtosk) the situation could have been very different.

Actually, the British intercepted it and waited about 5 weeks to release it to the Americans, hoping to maximize the effect of anti-German sentiment.

I don't know what Mexico could have done. At the time the telegram was sent Mexico was just coming out of a bitter civil war. Carrana had as yet to consolidate his power. There was no constitution, the country was in chaos, and Zapata was still a serious problem. And I doubt Germany could have provided any real support. She was not going to get war materials to the Mexicans. After Jutland, the High Seas fleet wouldn't even put to sea, much less any merchant ships. Between the Royal navy and the US Navy, the Germans weren't going to be able to aid the Mexicans. JMO.That was only part of the reason for the delay. The Brits didn’t want the Germans to know that they had cracked their diplomatic codes, so they had to come up with an explanation for why they had the message. They eventually had a spy break into the communications office that the Germans were using to rout their diplomatic messages. The spy didn’t actually do anything, but he made it clear that there had been an intruder. The Germans assumed that the Zimmerman message had been stolen by the spy, just like the Brits had hoped. It took a while to set up the operation, which was another major part of the reason for the delay.

Lets assume to go as far as that the Mexicans invade the US. What would happen is simply the mobilization of the national guard and relocation of coastal units to fight the insurgency. I m also pretty sure that Canada would have pitched in as well. This might have prolongued the war slightly but the end could have been total screwage for mexico. I kind of think that it would have been cut in half with a lot of the people squeezed further south and whomever is left would have been anglosized ergo english language and assimilation.

I m also pretty sure that Canada would have pitched in as well.

No way, Canada was fighting in Euro. We did not control our foreign policy at the time. Hard knock life it was...

realisticly speaking if US needed help in the home territories Canada would have helped both were on same side and if mexico joined the axis it would have had to help.
I m still going to remind you that both kept reserves on the coasts for battery brigades (remember those emplaced battery peaces were manned). Those would have been sent south + national guard + volunteers and allied support which canada could have provided either shipwise or manwise by sending some of their coastal brigades as well.

realisticly speaking if US needed help in the home territories Canada would have helped both were on same side and if mexico joined the axis it would have had to help.

Realistically speaking Canada did not have excess men, or material to spare. Britain controlled Canadian politics; it's not a hard concept. We were merely nominally independent of the UK. The UK needed our men and material, they weren't going to give that up for the US. Anyways the US did not need our assistance.

I m still going to remind you that both kept reserves on the coasts for battery brigades (remember those emplaced battery peaces were manned). Those would have been sent south + national guard + volunteers and allied support which canada could have provided either shipwise or manwise by sending some of their coastal brigades as well.

Do I have to use big font? Canada did not control her military, nor her foreign affairs, comprende amigo?

I wonder if the Zimmerman Telegraph was a hoax. The idea of Germany helping Mexico in any way seems illogical. Germany was having very severe problems, Mexico was a long far away, German ports were blockaded, unrestricted submarine warfare would have brought the US Navy into the play to name just a few reasons that do not make the plan plausible.

The UK had much to gain if the US was brought into the war. They were on the ropes. Their losses of men, material and treasure were massive and public morale was beginning to turn against the war.

What a great way to bring the US into the war, fabricate a threat from Mexico. Conveniently the Brits "found" a telegram, held on to it for some time and then delivered it to the Yanks.

After the war, was there any attempt to verify the authentisity of the Z Telegram?

I wonder if the Zimmerman Telegraph was a hoax. The idea of Germany helping Mexico in any way seems illogical. Germany was having very severe problems, Mexico was far away, German ports were blockaded, unrestricted submarine warfare would have brought the US Navy into the play to name just a few reasons that do not make the plan plausible.

The UK had much to gain if the US was brought into the war. They were on the ropes. Their losses of men, material and treasure were massive and public morale was beginning to turn against the war.

What a great way to bring the US into the war, fabricate a threat from Mexico. Conveniently the Brits "found" a telegram, held on to it for some time and then delivered it to the Yanks.

After the war, was there any attempt to verify the authentisity of the Z Telegram?

I have always been intrigued by this portion of WWI.

In April 1917 the Foreign minister of the Reich sent a telegraph to Mexico City proposing some very interesting proposals.

interesting question Undecided, but I wonder if the whole thing wasn't a Brit operation to get the US riled up? It would make more sense for it to be a Brit "black project", they had more to gain (& to lose if it didn't get the US on their side), than Germany did.

Did Germany or Zimmerman ever admit to that telegram? or was it an "intelligence" victory?

The USA would undoubtedly have dealt with Mexico in the long run, but perhaps a Mexican invasion would have been successful inthe short term. The US army was very small and years of civil war may have made the Mexicans more combat effective: as a way of uniting a country invading a neighbour is pretty effective, so taking both sides in the Civil War into Texas and New Mexico would have given them a nice load of loot to go for. Communications weren't that good: take limited chunks along the border, drive out the people who wouldn't accept being part of Mexico, destroy bridges, railroads etc and conduct guerrilla raids against US forces sent against them. Make the cost of reconquest high and hold out. The only problem is that the Mexicans would have to rely on Germany defeating Britain and France and sending military aid and supplies before the USA counterattacked, none of which would be very likely.

Did Germany or Zimmerman ever admit to that telegram? or was it an "intelligence" victory?
At a Berlin press conference on March 3rd 1917, a reported from Hearst newspapers caught Zimmerman's eye and asked, "Naturally, Your Excellency will deny this story?"

Zimmerman replied, "I cannot deny it. It is true."

Normal diplomatic form is to issue a categorical denial, and Zimmerman's ready admission just adds to the curiosity of the whole affair.

The USA would undoubtedly have dealt with Mexico in the long run, but perhaps a Mexican invasion would have been successful inthe short term. The US army was very small and years of civil war may have made the Mexicans more combat effective: as a way of uniting a country invading a neighbour is pretty effective

While opposing factions in a civil war can sometimes unite long enough to resist an invader, it is highly unlikely for such factions to be able to unify in any sort of way necessary to mount a successful coordinated invasion of another state, especially if the state is at least as powerful as yours. And unless you believe you can be successful in the long run, why risk it? The promise from Berlin was the recovery of the Southwest territory lost in 1848. If Carrana knows up-front Mexico can't win in the long run, which he surely did, and would also surely know that his newly-won government will likely topple as a result of a defeat, I doubt an invasion would have ever been seriously contemplated, which is of course assuming he could have even cosolidated his power to be able to coordinate such an invasion.

I doubt an invasion would have ever been seriously contemplated, which is of course assuming he could have even cosolidated his power to be able to coordinate such an invasion.

I couldn't agree more. There's no way Mexico could have believed they would stand a chance against the USA, much less recieve help from Germany.

Lets assume to go as far as that the Mexicans invade the US. What would happen is simply the mobilization of the national guard and relocation of coastal units to fight the insurgency. I m also pretty sure that Canada would have pitched in as well. This might have prolongued the war slightly but the end could have been total screwage for mexico. I kind of think that it would have been cut in half with a lot of the people squeezed further south and whomever is left would have been anglosized ergo english language and assimilation.I certainly don’t think that Mexico could have conquered and held any U.S. territory, but you have to keep in mind that at the time we didn’t have the sort of well-developed National Guard and Reserve system that we have now, and our standing army was relatively small. We knew Canada and Mexico probably wouldn’t attack us, so most people didn’t see any point in having a large army. At the time most of the military money in the U.S. was going to the Navy.