Woodrow Wilson, la crisi di Veracruz e il contrasto con il Kaiserreich (aprile 1914)

Abstract

In April 1914, the United States entered in conflict with Germany because of Mexico. The Kaiserreich, which had extended its political and economic influence in Mexico, opposed Madero’s liberal power and recognized the dictatorship of Huerta in order to protect its commercial interests and to use Mexico as an instrument of Weltpolitik, bringing under discussion the “Monroe Doctrine” and the American supremacy in the Southern Hemisphere. Wilson openly backed up the anti-Huerta democratic forces, and expressed a strong sense of realism trying to reduce the influence of the Reich and defeat Huerta. When at Tampico’s port some Marines were arrested by the Huerta’s forces, Wilson took the opportunity to settle the score with the dictator and authorized the taking of Veracruz, also for blocking the delivery of German weapons cargo on board of the ship Ypiranga. The ship was prevented from docking, and this triggered the diplomatic reaction in Berlin. The Veracruz Crisis clearly demonstrated the American will to counter the German Weltpolitik, three years before the United States fought against Germany in the WWI