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The U.S.A. is Losing Ground to Japanese in Mexico
http://www.mexidata.info/id421.html
March 14, 2005
By Nancy Conroy
Japanese trade missions just keep coming to Baja California, Mexico, bringing businesspeople, government representatives and financial resources to
the state. The potential investors represent any number of major Japanese manufacturers and brands, all hoping to establish factories in Mexico and
emulate the successful Toyota operation in Baja California.
One conceivable new plan is a Japanese-German pact to build a modern replacement for the Volkswagen sedan, this at manufacturing facilities operated
by Toyota in the beachfront community of Rosarito some 20 miles south of the border.
Actually Japanese investment is all over Baja California, from factories along the border to tuna fattening farms to the fishing industry. As well,
the Japanese have been major players in the credit market, providing numerous credits for infrastructure construction. Drainage and water projects in
both Ensenada and Rosarito are being financed through Japanese loans, while in Tijuana schools, hospitals, and freeways have been constructed with
money from Japan.
Some might say that all of this investment from Japan is a recent development, based on a Japanese desire to access the U.S. market. But this type of
Japanese long-term planning is nothing new, as in actuality the Japanese have been fomenting strong relationships with Mexico for years.
Furthermore, the automobile-manufacturing project would not be the first time that Japanese and Germans have discussed major plans for Baja
California. Just prior to World War I, a German-Japanese alliance had designs on the California to Baja California region, a historical background
that demonstrates Japan has had its eye on the area for longer than one might think.
Just before World War I, Japan and Germany launched a plan for a Japanese takeover of California, to be achieved through an alliance with Mexico.
That plan was part of a little known footnote in world history that had the potential to change the course of World War I.
Prior to the entrance of the United States into the war, Germany attempted to bring Mexico into the hostilities on its side. Germany and Japan
realized that then Mexican President Venustiano Carranza harbored considerable resentment towards the U.S., and he could possibly be persuaded to join
a war effort against the U.S.
So the ?Zimmerman Telegram? was sent to Mexico, a communiqu? transmitted by the German ambassador. That telegram asked Mexico to provide refueling
stations for German ships along the Gulf of Mexico in the states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas, so that the ships could attack European supply convoys
crossing the Atlantic to and from the U.S. The thinking was that the strategy would bring Mexico into the war, and probably the U.S., thus generating
a U.S.-Mexican conflict. If Mexico agreed, at the end of the war Germany offered to return the territories of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to
Mexico. California, however, would go to the Japanese.
Historical evidence suggests that Carranza seriously considered the offer, although in the end he declined because he was not certain that Germany
would fulfill its pledge.
After World War II, Japanese war refugees settled throughout Mexico and began to create strong cultural ties with high-level Mexican industrialists.
In later years this group formed the Japanese-Mexican Lyceum, an expensive and exclusive private school that has educated the children of
ex-presidents Carlos Salinas de Gortari and Ernesto Zedillo, two former Ministers of Education, and other elites. Formerly cr?me de la cr?me children
and leaders were educated in the U.S. and Europe, whereas now there are those who receive a Japanese education.
And with the high-level ties, Japanese companies experience little government interference in their investment projects, while they also enjoy
permanent good relations with Mexico.
As for Baja California, it is increasingly easier for state and local governments to get financial help and business assistance from Japan than from
the U.S.
If Japan can create a yet stronger foothold in Baja California, the former can consolidate access to the U.S. market and build a more effective base
for a Pacific Rim stronghold. As such, it is fair to assume that the Japanese are planning to methodically strengthen their ties in this area in
accordance with a long-term plan.
This Japanese influence and involvement should be a wake-up call to the U.S. What is more, with Baja California right next-door U.S. industrialists
and entrepreneurs are missing their chance to create a regional economy with Mexico ? an error that includes the risk of losing even more ground to
Japanese competition.
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Bruce R Leech
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there goes the neighborhood.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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MrBillM
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Next thing you know, they'll buy up all the farm land and plant rice.
Quote:
"Historical evidence suggests that Carranza seriously considered the offer, although in the end he declined because he was not certain that Germany
would fulfill its pledge."
It's been about 35 years ago that I read the "Zimmerman Telegram", but I seem to remember something about our response to the dalliance of Mexico and
Germany was to send Warships and Marines down to the City of Veracruz to shell and take that city as a little lesson to Mexico of what they could
expect. That may have influenced Carranza more than uncertainty over Germany's sincerity. It turned out to be a good decision since I THINK I
remember Germany coming in second in that war.
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MrBillM
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The Zimmerman Telegram
Most Secret
For Your Excellency's personal information and to be handed on to the Imperial Minister in Mexico
We intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare on the first of February. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States neutral. In
the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of an alliance on the following basis: Make war together, make peace together, generous
financial support, and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement
detail is left to you.
You will inform the President [of Mexico] of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States is certain and add the
suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves.
Please call the President's attention to the fact that the unrestricted employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England to
make peace within a few months. Acknowledge receipt.
Zimmerman
OOPS, guess old Zimmie and his cronies were wrong on a couple of points: 1. That the U.S. would remain neutral and 2. that their U-boats would
compel England to sue for peace.
Both "The Zimmerman Telegram" and "The Guns of August" for which authoress Barbara Tuchman received a Pulitzer Prize are excellent reads on the
subject of WWI.
[Edited on 3-16-2005 by MrBillM]
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MrBillM
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I Stand Corrected
The fading of memory with time and the confusing of events is common. In my case, two events that occurred during the WWI period that were written
about in "The Zimmerman Telegram" have become one over the years.
Specifically, the United States Shelling and Taking of Veracruz by the U.S.S. Arkansas and U.S.S. Texas was done on the 21st and 22nd of April, 1914
and was, therefore unrelated to the Zimmerman Telegram, however, it was this incident which helped to give Carranza doubts about an alliance with
Germany.
Thanks to this post, I just ordered a new copy of The Zimmerman Telegram and The
Guns of August from Amazon.com
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JESSE
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http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=103&It...
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Braulio
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I don't know that Carranza was necessarily anti-US - at least not until Pres. Wilson sent US troops into Chihuahua and Coahuila to chase Pancho Villa
around for a couple of years.
I think that might have had something to do with the Germans thinking that Mexico would be approachable/amenable.
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MrBillM
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Chasing Pancho
Pershing was chasing Pancho Villa in Mexico because he was raiding and killing across the border and then running back into Mexico. The Mexican
Government refused to do anything about it so we did what was needed.
As far as the Kaiser/Mexico deal, Carranza would have to have been pretty dumb to make that deal. The chance that WWI era U-boats could have
controlled the Atlantic against our fleet would have been about zero and there was no way that the rest of the German fleet could cross the Atlantic
and have any effect. The only time the German armada came out of port was to meet the British off of Jutland and they fought to a draw before both
went home.
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Braulio
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To say the Mexican Government refused to do anything while Pancho Villa raided towns in the US really isn't true. Pancho Villa was a rebel in Mexico
too - he never recognized the legitimacy of Carranza's government.
Villa and Carranza were briefly aligned (with Obregon and Zapata) to take out Huerta - but had a falling out soon afterwards. Carranza tried to put
Villa down. Villa made a lot more raids in Mexico than he did in the US. If it were such an easy task then why couldn't Pershing do it?
Getting back to the German/Mexican connection - I think that Germany just wanted the US to have something to think about on it's southern border.
I've also read that there was a connection between Zapata and Germany - but I can't remember exactly what it was - you've tweeked my interest - I'll
have to dig out some of my old sources.
Take care BillM.
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Braulio
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As an update on the original theme - here's a link to an article from today's La Frontera which has the japanese embassador saying that some more
japanese companies will be pulling out of Mexico.
The article lists as possible reasons fiscal uncertainty in Mexico, technological reasons, and insecurity (crime)in Mexico - but the ambassador
doesn't elaborate as to why.
http://www.frontera.info/edicionenlinea/notas/noticias/20050...
So who really knows what the future will bring.
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jrbaja
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I do
more P-nche gringos!
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