Carl William Ackerman

“ Instead of being a secret report, as in the case of the German Bericht to Berlin, the American report was published and widely circulated. No mention is made of military operations, intervention, and so on, and the object of the chamber will be as beneficial to Mexico as to the United States. That is the Great Divide between American enterprise in Mexico and German intrigue. The object of the one is to develop honest business; the Teutonic object is to spread propaganda and convince Mexicans that the German methods of conducting the war are right. ”

“ Early in 1915 there was organised in Mexico City a Union of German Citizens. On April sixteenth, 1916, the following report was sent from this Union to the Deutscher Wirtschaftsverband for Central and South America, with home offices at Potsdamerstrasse, 28, Berlin. The significant statement was made at that time, less than one year before the United States broke off relations with Berlin: "It is not practicable for us to aid Germany by force of arms." ”

“ It is desired to begin the immediate construction of a German hospital, which will be a great impulse to our colony and will demonstrate to our following the power of German science, German ability, and the German spirit of organisation. If the Empire approves and gives aid it will be a great point for our propaganda. ”

“ Free courses in German have been instituted in the German schools by Mexican instructors without special effort on the part of our association, though a part of the general plan of the committee, and have been received with great approval by the public, and add to our propaganda. ”

“ The other night I read every article in the Post, except one about Germany. I did not want to read that one; but I couldn't sleep because it was so hot that night, and I read that article about one-thirty in the morning. It made me so angry I didn't sleep all night!
"Well," I replied, "you ought to read everything that is written about Germany, and maybe you couldn't sleep for a week! But what are you going to do when Germany becomes a democratic nation?"
"Germany is democratic," he answered ”

“ In Tampico the labour difficulties have increased; and General Carranza has sent two hundred soldiers to the city to maintain order, while a number of Mexicans have written to the United States Consulate asking that American marines be landed to protect the city at night. In these letters the Mexicans declared that it was unsafe to go on the street after dark in some neighbourhoods, and they requested American intervention.
Food and money continue to become scarcer throughout Mexico, despite the official announcements. ”

“ Moreover, a great number of Germans who, for various reasons, "by not observing the ancient regulations, lost their nationality,' have regained their standing as Germans, and have been rehabilitated under the new liberal laws of the association. ”