U.S. Ambassador Henry P. Fletcher arrives in Laredo Mexico to assume his post as American Ambassador. Contingent of Carranza's Mexican Soldiers stand at attention at a railroad station, present to guard the ambassador's arrival. A steam train arrives. Ambassador Fletcher is greeted by officers. The officers meet and shake hands. Latter third of clip is unrelated and shows Ottoman Empire Turkish soldiers marching at a sea port during World War 1.
Opening scene shows U.S. State Department officials of the Division of the American Republics in a meeting. They examine a map titled "Inter-American Highway" showing a proposed highway running from the border of the U.S. and Mexico at Laredo Texas, all the way through Mexico, Latin America, and into South America. View of South American farmers loading hay into a horse cart, then of cattle in a stockyard being herded by a cowboy on a horse. Aerial view of city of Rio de Janeiro Brazil circa 1938. Narrator discusses threat of dictatorships in countries of South America. Views of German ships and German contracted ships loading and unloading at Buenos Aires harbor. Narrator describes system of barter where Argentina sends goods to Germany in exchange for German-made goods. Swastika flag on one of the cargo ships. Dock crane with German sign "Deutsche Maschinenfabrik A.G. Duisburg". Letters on side of a ship reads 'Buenos Aires Maru'. Supplies unloaded from ship. Cargo stacked including wooden boxes with German writing labeled "Vorsicht - San Paulo Brasilien". In a Latin American or South American city, view of the storefront for luxury goods by Herm Stoltz & Co. A Nazi German flag hangs above the store entrance. Fine leather goods, cameras, figurines, steins, etc from Germany are shown in store window displays. View of Nazi German books on display in storefronts, including closeup of translated book "Mein Kampf" ("Mi Lucha") by Adolf Hitler, bearing an image of Hitler on front cover. A German passenger aircraft parked at an airfield, which narrator describes as being part of a German airline offering service to South America within two days of Berlin, Germany. More German airplanes are shown at an airport in South America. View of government offices in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Large crest with a bird atop an entrance. Interior office view of President GetĂșlio Vargas of Brazil seated in discussion with American diplomats. Narrator indicates that Vargas learned of German colonists in Brazil planning his overthrow by assassination, and therefore outlawed all Nazi activity. Poster of Vargas communicating his policies. Scene switches to exterior view of the State, War, and Navy Building (later the Executive Office Building) in Washington DC, with the First Division Monument in the foreground. Interior view of office door bearing sign for Under Secretary of State. Inside, Sumner Welles is seen in discussion with officials. He is asked about the American attitude toward Latin America. Welles describes the importance of strengthening ties between the countries of the Americas. Under Secretary Welles states that the welfare of all of the countries in the region may depend on their continued solidarity.
Aerial view of Rio Grande river flood in wake of Hurricane Alice, in 1954. International Bridge between Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Loredo, Mexico, is completely under water. Houses and fields inundated by flood waters. A soldier patrolling in the area. Store owners seen clearing mud from sidewalks by their establishments. Woman and boys wash mud from sidewalk.
Line of U.S. battleships, including 1917 class (New Mexico class) such as the USS Idaho, USS Mississippi, USS New Mexico. Image of U.S. Capitol in Washington seen. U.S. Navy sailors parading in Washington, DC. Crowd gathered at Washington monument. Sailors on signal bridge of a U.S. warship, hoisting signals. Ships in distance. U.S. Navy sailors, aboard a destroyer, launching depth charges which explode and produce upsurge of water, behind the vessel. Sailors hurrying to their battle stations.
Picture of Johann Heinrich Graf Von Bernstorff and his wife. He was the German ambassador to the United Nations and Mexico from 1908 -1917. Huge crowd gathered on the road. Two officers talking amongst themselves. United States soldiers stand holding a banner that states 'The stars and the Stripes forever'.
Events during World War 1. Sketches : In November 1916 newspaper shows Wilson reelected as a president. Cartoon depict the people of America supporting the Wilson's policy of peace. Several sketches of Thomas Woodrow Wilson after winning the election. Second inaugural of President Wilson at the United States capitol in Washington D.C. The German High Command in Berlin. Posters show the hardships of German citizens due to Allied blockade. Germany announces unrestrained submarine warfare against all vessels. Posters of the Germans destroying the American ships. The New York times reports German demarche to Japan and Mexico for support to Germany. Sketch depicts Germany Secretary of foreign affairs, Arthur Zimmermann seeks these alliances. Theodore Roosevelt addresses people. Several sketches of Woodrow Wilson. On April 2nd 1917 President Woodrow Wilson obtains declaration of war against Germany, from congress. American enters the conflict. U.S. Soldiers carry weapons in the battle field. sketches of several American officials. People work in factories to produce war materiel. A person with posters promoting Liberty bonds. A blindfolded person draws numbers from a bowl for civilian conscription. Citizens entering military service. People in a railroad train and others stand outside. People holding baggage walk in a group. A doctor checks the mouth of a recruit. Army recruit getting a haircut. Soldier stands holding guns. Soldiers practice firing artillery. Soldiers march. American recruits practice on wooden guns. Several sketches of the allied armies.