Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-18
SITUATIONS
OF both ARE
CONSIDERED
BY HARRY FOEHNER
Herald Staff CORRESPONDENT

SAN BENITO, Oct. IL Assur-
ance that there will be no adjust
ment OF international water rights
on the Colorado silver between the
United States and Mexico without
similar and simultaneous cstion in
regard to the Rio Grande situation
Is given by Sec. OF State Henry L.
Stimson In q letter to the governor
OF Arizona, according to Frank S.
Robertson, secretary of the recently
organized Lower Rio Grande Water
Conservation Assn. executive board.
This recognition OF the dual situa-
ton in regard to the division OF
the waters In these international
streams Is one OF the most import
ant developments in connection
with this matter to the Valley, said
Robertson.
1t means that the United States.
which has physical control Of Col
orado waters through building OF
the Hoover dam. win not jeopardize
claims of Valley interests as prior
users Of Rio Grande waters, oy
negotiating a treaty on the Color
ado which might have the effect
OF d~isregarding prior rights OF Mex
leo there, he said.
The letter, in part. follows:
Interests Considered
II have received your letter. with
which O enclose a copy OF q let
ter TO the Hon. Carl Hayden, u. 5.
senate. by the Colorado River Com
mission OF Arizona. in which refer
ence Is made to the probability
that the interests OF the state OF
Arizona may be jeorardized In
pending treaty negotiations between
the United States and Mexico, con-
corning the w>.ers Of the Colorado
river.
There are at present no treaty
negotiations in progress between
the u. S. and Mexico with refer
nee TO the distribution OF the
waters OF the Colorado river. You
NAV rest assured that when the
question arises the legitimate In
terests OF this country and its cit
izens will command our fullest
attention and care. The problem OF
an adjustment between n U: D
and Mexico on the Colorado river
Is inevitably bound up with a some
what similar situation on the Rio
crande. A position taken on either
er. q principle invoked or a
hdition which must be met viii
CERTAINLY affect the other. II the
III. o. asserts in the case OF the
Colorado that 1t Is entitled TO the
exclusive use OF the waters which
originate in its own territory, 1t
must face the application OF the
same principle on the Rio Grande.
I'm approaching the problem on
the Colorado I trust that both you
and the people OF Arizona will. IN
the one hand. accept my st9tement
that we are thoroughly aspreciative
Of the national interests invol-ed
and. on the other hand, be ready
10 recognize that in some Of the
broader aspects the rivers must be
considered together and not as
isolated problems.
"Fmay say for your information
that the American section OF the
international Water Commission, in
cooperation with representatives
of Mexico, is continuing its studies
OF the Lower Rio Grande and the
Lower Colorado and Tia Juana
rivers, In accordance with the pro-
visions OF the Act OF Congress ap-
proved March 3, 1927"
Reverse Conditions
Robertson explained that the
situation on the Rio Grande Is al
most the reverse Of that on the
Colorado.
All waters OF the Colorado orig
mate in the United states and this
country will have full physical con-
troll through the Hoover dam at
Boulder canyon and the Great ALI
American Canal. Mexico has devel-
oped about $50, 900 acres under irri-
CATION through use of Colorado
river waters but the United States
has the power TO cut them off In
spite OF their claims as prior users.
On the Rio Grande, on the other
hand. Americans, principally in
the Lower Valley, have made prior
use Of waters from this stream most
OF which originate in Mexico.
It would react against the prior
right claims of the Valley II prior
rights Of users on the Colorado
were disregarded, Mr.. Robertson
pointed out.
A precedent in the recognition OF
claims made by prior users OF ws-
ter was set in -. Juarez Valley
opposite FL Paso in 1906. Robert
son pointed out. Mexico had de-
veloped about $4,000 acres by use
of irrigation. Then the Elephant
Butte dam was brilt above FL Paso.
impounding Rio Grande water and
Mexico was cut off. Farming oper-
atoms had 10 be given up and a big
development d~eteriorated. Claims
were filed with the American gov.
eminent which were recognized
with the result that these prior
users were allotted 65, 900 acre feet
n year. The allotment was made to
preserve friendship between the
two countries. The Valley has feared
that II the precedent we're not fol-
lowed In regard TO users on the
Colorado that Mexico would not
follow the precedent on the Lower
$3.50