Imperial Valley press., 1945-01-17
HELP DEFEAT APPROVAL
OF MEXICAN WATER PACT


ate foreign relations committee will open
hearings on the proposed Colorado River
water treaty the President has signed
and submitted to the upper house for
ratification. AS the crucial time nears
for final vote it becomes more and more
apparent that the weight of the effort
to thwart the administration plan to
give away 100000 feet of the water from
Boulder dam rests on California.
The senate committee which will or
will not report the treaty out for action
is headed by Senator Tom Connolly of
Texas, an avowed supporter of the treaty.
The past is mis-named. 1t is character
lied as treaty covering the waters of
the Rio Grande and the Colorado. But
it calls for no diversion of waters from
the Rio Grande to Mexico, although that
river forms the boundary line between
the two countries for hundreds of miles.
The only area of Mexico touched by the
Colorado is its flow across narrow neck
of land before it empties into the Gull
of California.
Texas gains by the treaty for the SIM
pie reason that Mexico is appeased for
loss of Rio Grande water by receiving the
added 100000 acre feet from the Colo
RADIO, a volume in excess Of the agreed
upon amount when the waters were al
located at the completion of Boulder
Dam.
The original allotment was far above
the average flow of the river year In and
year out over a long period and is lar
greater amount than ever has been used
below the border and far more, every
one who knows the situation below the
line, ever can use to advantage.
Imperial Valley is most vitality con-
cerned. Far more directly concerned
than the rest of the state. 1t is easy
enough to explain the reason, if any. for
the treaty, by the assertion that the terms
never would result in lack OF water IN
the valley. Who can guarantee that there
always will be even the present supply!
People in the Valley look forward to the
day when the entire tillable acreage Will
be under water. Today less than third
of the highly productive soil ever has
had plow or drop OF water.
How can one help battle this steal
down to defeat? By giving full moral
support to the group at Washington now
enlisting its forces to conduct the fight.
Letters and kilograms of encouragement
to these persons who are there on their
own or their employers time should be
sent and continued to go. The two United
States senators, Johnson and Downey,
should be bulwarked by letters and tele-
grams.
But more IT'LL can and must be done,
and now. There are 96 senator's. In all
California and right here in the Valley
are many citizens who know some OF the
other senators, or know people, friends
and former associates, who know SEN
ators from the other AZ states. 1t is per-
tinent and fully ethical and fair to appeal
to all senators to defeat the pact because
the whole matter is away beyond a local
issue.
If the Federal government can elect TO
assume full control over stream and go
SO far as to sign treaty transferring
full control of the stream bed to a Tor
eign country, it is time for halt. II tnls
power can be asserted and used, the
states as well nullify their constitutions
and pay full tribute to the government
at Washington and surrender its SOW
erign rights.
The whole thing goes just that deep.
Let everybody put in his best effort to
defeat this treaty. Today is the time TO
act. Not tomorrow.
rrvr