File No. 3172/73–75.
The American Ambassador
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Mexico, February 27,
1908.
No. 925.]
Sir: I acknowledge the receipt of the
Department’s No. 397, of the 29th ultimo (File No. 3172/71), m which I
am directed [etc.].
Copies of my note of the 11th instant presenting this matter to the
attention of the minister for foreign affairs and his reply thereto of
the 19th instant,1 with translation, are inclosed.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The American
Ambassador to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico, February 11,
1908.
F. O. No. 291.]
Mr. Minister: I have been requested to
convey to your excellency a suggestion that your excellency’s
Government appoint an engineer to meet a similar
[Page 537]
official designated by my Government
for the purpose of inquiring into the matter of the amount of water
which it may be considered that the two countries are respectively
entitled to take from the Colorado River for use in irrigation. My
Government desires me to say that the intent of this proposal is
that the officers so appointed should consider and report to their
respective Governments upon the following matters:
- 1.
- The nature and character of the use of Mexican territory
which might be necessary or advisable in order to enable the
officers of the United States Reclamation Service to protect
the reclamation works at Laguna Dam.
- 2.
- In case the Government of the United States should acquire
the rights now held by the California Development Co., the
terms for an arrangement with the Government of Mexico for
the use of the existing canal rights, owned by that, company
through its subsidiary Mexican corporation, and for the use
of the bed of the Alamo River, which connects this canal
with the Imperial Valley.
- 3.
- In case the Government of the United States should not
acquire the rights now held by the California Development
Co., the terms for an arrangement which might be made
between the Government of Mexico and that of the United
States touching the treatment which should be accorded the
Mexican corporation, which has been organized as ancillary
to the work of the California Development Co.
In this connection, I may say that it is considered by the officers
of the Reclamation Service of the United States that the amount of
water which the Sociedad de Riego y Terrenos de la Baja California,
S. A., is permitted to abstract from the Colorado River under the
concession is excessive.
It should be added to the suggestion which I have had the honor to
convey to your excellency that the determinations which may be
reached upon these questions by the officers whose appointment is
proposed should not be regarded as binding upon either Government,
but should be reported to the respective Governments to assist them
in reaching the basis of some agreement for the mutually beneficial
use of the water of the Colorado River.
Awaiting an expression of your excellency’s opinion in this matter,
that I may convey the same to my Government,
I avail, etc.,
