Read the excerpt from "how we entered world war i."

in the midst of it came the revelation of the telegram from german foreign minister arthur zimmermann inviting mexico into alliance as a belligerent. as a scheme to keep u. s. forces occupied on their own border, it offered to mexico regain her lost territories of texas, arizona, and new mexico.

the author most likely uses the word "scheme" to
explain to the reader that acts of war are carefully planned and executed.
point out the anger the united states had toward mexico and germany.
show the reader that germany was a legitimate threat to the united states.
detail the plan germany had devised to ally itself with mexico in world war i.