▁attempt ▁such ▁an ▁enter prise ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁reasons : ▁▁ ▁Mexico ▁was ▁in ▁the ▁midst ▁of ▁a ▁civil ▁war , ▁and ▁Car ran za ' s ▁position ▁was ▁far ▁from ▁secure . ▁A ▁declaration ▁of ▁war ▁by ▁his ▁regime ▁would ▁have ▁provided ▁an ▁opportunity ▁for ▁oppos ing ▁fa ctions ▁to ▁align ▁with ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁Al lied ▁Pow ers ▁in ▁exchange ▁for ▁diplom atic ▁recognition . ▁▁ ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁was ▁far ▁stronger ▁militar ily ▁than ▁Mexico ▁was . ▁Even ▁if ▁Mexico ' s ▁military ▁forces ▁were ▁completely ▁un ited ▁and ▁loyal ▁to ▁a ▁single ▁regime , ▁no ▁serious ▁scenario ▁existed ▁under ▁which ▁they ▁could ▁in va de ▁and ▁win ▁a ▁war ▁against ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁Germany ' s ▁promises ▁of ▁" gener ous ▁financial ▁support " ▁were ▁very ▁un re li able . ▁The ▁German ▁government ▁had ▁already ▁informed ▁Car ran za ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁that ▁they ▁were ▁unable ▁to ▁provide ▁the ▁necessary ▁gold ▁needed ▁to ▁stock ▁a ▁completely ▁independent ▁Mexican ▁national ▁bank . ▁Even ▁if ▁Mexico ▁received ▁financial ▁support , ▁it ▁would ▁still ▁need ▁to ▁purchase ▁arms , ▁am mun ition , ▁and ▁other ▁needed ▁war ▁supplies ▁from ▁the ▁ABC ▁nations ▁( Ar gent ina , ▁Brazil , ▁and ▁Chile ), ▁which ▁would ▁stra in ▁relations ▁with ▁them , ▁as ▁explained ▁below . ▁ ▁Even ▁if ▁by ▁some ▁chance ▁Mexico ▁had ▁the ▁military ▁means ▁to ▁win ▁a ▁conflict ▁against ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁rec laim ▁the ▁territ ories ▁in ▁question , ▁Mexico ▁would