Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-09
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Represanfafixes
Must Recognize Rights of Mexico

The Lower RIO Grance Valley rs IN favor Of the
Boulder Canyon dam project. providing i does not in
te-fere with the rights Of Mexico 70 use of the waters
Of the Colorado river.
Frank Robertson Of San Benito, secretary Of the
Associated Irrigation Districts Of the Valley, in a re-
cent letter 20 the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. set forth
the Valleys stand on this question clearly and con-
eisely.
After careful consideration. our people have de-
cided to support this Colorado river project so long
as this is so conducted as not to interfere with rights
Of Mexico to use OF Colorado water" Mr.. Robertson
said. when this bill was up for consideration in the
last congress a committee was sent to Washington to
secure an amendment TO the bill which we thought
would be of advantage with respect to Mexican rela-
tions. This amendment was agreed to BY the pro-
ponents Of the bill and is now a part thereof"
When the Boulder Canyon bill was originally in
troduced it made no definite provisions for Mexico,
and considerable opposition was aroused, especially
along the Rio Grand where it was evident that in the
event the bill should pass in its original form Mexico
would be fully justified in taking similar action TO
deny American irrigation interests the righ1 to use
major part of the waters of the Rio Grand JsStief
to Mexico made an amendment imperative, and N&
amendmen: was secured as a result Of the action OF
the committee which went TO Washington on behalf o.
the irrigation interests Of the Lower Rio Grande VAL
ley.
To deny Mexico the use Of Colorado river water
would result in serious loss to Mexican irrigation in
terests alnog the lower reaches of that stream. and
would be followed BY a far more serious situation
along the Rio Grande where Mexico could control the
major part Of the water TO the detrimeat Of American
irrigation interests. The volume Of water from the
Colorado that Mexican irrigation interests would use
would be insignificant in comparison with the loss the
United States would sustain along the Rio Grande.
Consideration Of the Boulder Canyon bill has been
POSTPONED until March Is. and by that time congress
will probably have some definite information relative
70 the desires cf Mexico in connection with the eqult-
able distribution Of the the waters Of international
streams. The American and Mexican joint commission.
organized for the purpose Of reaching a basis for a
treaty. on this question. viii hold its first conference
ut Ell Paso beginning February rs. 70 be followed oy
another conference at Brownsville, probably IN March
There has already been considerable unofficial discus
sion between Mexican and American irrigation inter
ests upon this question OF equitable distribution, and
there is no doubt on this side Of the border that Mex
leo desires to establish a fair and equitable basis upon
which a treaty can be negotiated However, hy the
time the Boulder Dam bill again comes up for con-
sideration. congress will probably have something
definite 10 work upon. and IN the event Me2ico's view
are not set forth clearly BY that time, consideration Of
the bill should be deferred until such time as con-
eress can be assured that the action taken will not be
inconsistent with what Mexico regards as her rights
70 the waters Of the Colorado.
The Lower Rio Grsnde Valley is not the only sec
ton interested in Mexieos rights to waters Of the
Colorado. The entire United States IL interested in this
question. Any attempt on the part Of the Colorado
interests to deny Mexico en- equitable division would
react adversely to the entire country. Merely because
the United States controls the stream does not give
this country the right to deny Mexico the use Of part
Of the waters. Every American precept OF justice and
fair play demands that Mexicois right to be recognized
ard tina: the waters of the international streams De
distributed upon a basis which viii serve the inter-
ests Of both countries and also serve 70 further
strengthen and improve the relations between them.
Our future relations with Mexico depend to no
small extent upon the action taken in connection with
the distribution Of the waters Of these streams. A
treaty based upon recognition OF the rights of both
countries and assuring an equitable distribution Of
benefits will 90 far toward cementing closer bonds Of
friendship and improving political and commercial re-
lations.