Evening star., 1932-12-13
us. T0TURN DOWN
WATER DIVERSION
State Department to Prevent
Right to Aluminium Company
on st. Lawrence.

The State Department agreed today
to reservation on the st. Lawrence
waterway treaty, If necessary to prevent
granting permanent right to the
Aluminium Co. of America for diversion
Of water for power.
Assistant Secretary James G. Rogers
told the Senate Foreign Relations Sub
committee considering the treaty he had
no objections to reservation demanded
by Frank P. Walsh, chairman of the
New York Power Authority. to prevent
the aluminium company from obtaining
a permanent grant Of the right to divert
water for its power project at Massena.
Rights Not Affected.
Rogers contended however, that there
was nothing in the treaty which af-
fected the Aluminium Co.'S right to the
water, Is testified earlier in the day by
Walsh.
The Assistant Secretary agreed with
Walsh that the treaty should not affirm
the compsny's right to the water.
Walsh had testified that under pres
ent terms Of the treaty the Govern
ment would spend more than million
dollars for the construction of works in
connection with the diversion of water
TO the Aluminium Co. plant.
Rogers testified part Of the money
was TO be spent for canal which was
necessary to prevent all Of the st. Law
renee water from flowing down the
aluminium Co.'S power canal
He contended the treaty did rot
commit the United States or New York
State to the conversion of water for
the Aluminium Co.
Has No Objection.
However" he said, 'if there is any
doubt there car very well be reserva-
ton to cover the point and nave no
objection to anything Of that kind"
Walsh testified that the st. Law
renee treaty would perpetuate
bald gratuity'' for the Aluminium Co.
of America by the expenditure of ST.
$4,000 for the company's power project
at Massena.
He said testimony BY Brig Cen
George B. Pillsbury assistant chief of
Army Engineers, confirmed the view
that the treaty would provide diversioH
CT water BY the aluminium company.
Favored Position.
This testimony" he said. makes il
clear that the works provided for in
the engineering plans, which are made
an integral parts CT the St. Lawrence
treaty. contemplate the expenditure Of
s1,3l8.000 for the purpose Of giving the
aluminium company permanent diver
sion Of 25000 cubic feet a second, if an
equitable arrangement cannot be made
between the Aluminium CO. OF America
and the Power Authority Of the State
of owl ~, .,-I,o
yelop the power
The committee will recognize the
disadvantage at which the State will
be placed in any negotiation With the
aluminium company, If the tr2atI pro-
vides the corporation with an a,terna-
tive, making it entirely independent of
an agreement with the State.
The aluminium company would oc-
cupy favored position among all the
industries within transmission distance
of the project
Walsh Endorsed construction OF the
St. Lawrence seaway and said i v5u'd
expedite the p-ojsct if Congress would
give prompt consideration to allccltEg
the power end fixing the costs to be
divided by the Federal Government and
New York State
He proposed that the United States
agree to make available to New York
for power development all the water in
the international rapids section over
and above the quantity required for
navigation. He summarized the posi-
ton of the trustees of the power re-
thority by saying that the power re-
sources of the st. Lawrence should be
developed without delay by a public
agency for the benefit of the people
under conditions that will permit the
sale of electricity at the lowest possible
rates.