What was Mexico's response to the Zimmerman note?

Answer 1

Mexican president Venustiano Carranza knew the probability for Mexico to takeover former territories was poor at best, due to the following reasons:

• Attempting to retake those territories would mean certain war with the US.
• No matter how generous the financial support from Germany would be, it would be worthless. Mexico could not use it to acquire arms, ammunition, or any other war supplies, as the United States was the only sizable arms manufacturer in the Americas. The British Royal Navy controlled the Atlantic sea lanes, so Germany could not possibly supply any quantity of arms.
• Even if Mexico had the military means to take back the lost territories it would have had severe difficulty accommodating and pacifying the large English-speaking population.
• Mexico had even cooperated with the ABC nations (Argentina, Brazil, Chile) to prevent a war with the United States during the Tampico Affair, generally improving relations. If Mexico were to enter war against USA it would strain relations with such countries.

Carranza formally declined Zimmermann's proposals on April 14, 1917, by which time the US had declared war on Germany.