"It can hardly be said that the relations between the United States and Mexico have been friendly and trustful, but the world knows that antagonism exists between America and Japan. I maintain that these antagonisms are stronger than those which, despite the war, exist between Germany and Japan. When I also wished to persuade France that Japan should join the alliance, there was nothing extraordinary in this. The relations between Japan and Mexico are long existent. The Mexicans and Japanese are of a like race, and good relations exist between both countries. When, further, the entente press affirms that it is shameless to take away allies, such reproach must have a peculiar effect coming from peoples like our enemies, who made no scruple in taking away from us two powers and peoples with whom we were bound by treaties of more than thirty years. The powers, who desire to make plain all old European countries of culture like Greece by unparalleled and violent means, cannot raise such a reproach against us. When I thought of this alliance with Mexico and Japan, I allowed myself to be guided by the consideration that our brave troops already have to fight against a superior force of enemies, and my duty is, as far as possible, to keep further enemies away from them. That Mexico and Japan suited that purpose, even Herr Haase will not deny." 