File No. 71.1216M/321.
The Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of State.
Washington, February 10, 1912.
My dear Mr. Secretary: In respect to the situation on the lower Colorado River I suggest that negotiations be opened with Mexico for the early creation of an international commission, embracing in its membership both American and Mexican engineers, to investigate and report as to the proper method of utilizing the waters of the lower Colorado in the two countries to the best advantage to each, taking into consideration the rights and interests of both countries.
Such a commission should be vested with broad powers and ample authority to examine into and submit a basis for the adjustment of all questions relating to the conservation, use and control of the waters of said river, with a view to such governmental action upon the part of both Governments as shall result in a complete, just [Page 982] and final settlement of all matters with reference to the river and its waters, in which the two countries are interested. The considerations calling for the appointment of such a commission at this particular time are as follows:
There has heretofore been constructed a canal and irrigation works for the irrigation of the valuable lands of the Imperial Valley and other parts of California. A portion of this canal lies in Mexican territory and is being maintained and operated under authority from that Government. It is important that the status of this canal and the appurtenant works shall be properly established and provision made for its future development and maintenance with due regard to the rights of the citizens of both countries.
The Colorado River is subject to great fluctuations in flow and the lower portion of the river lying within the Republic of Mexico naturally overflows its banks and has in the past seriously threatened the security of the lands and people of the Imperial Valley. It has also overflowed extensive areas in Mexico, thus affecting the productive uses to which this land can be put. On account of the danger to the property in the United States, this Government has already expended large sums of money in the construction of embankments and other works on Mexican territory. The expenditures have been made and the work carried on through the agency of a Mexican corporation, the Colorado River Land Company. Definite provision, however, has not been made for the continued maintenance of this work and it must be apparent that it should not be necessary to resort to this method to construct improvements of this nature. Moreover, the work thus far accomplished is largely temporary in character. Expensive permanent works are essential to any really satisfactory treatment of the situation. The Mexican Government has extended courteous consideration to the Colorado River Land Company, knowing that these courtesies were being extended in effect to the United States Government; but the adequate solution of this problem requires direct action on the part of both Governments. The necessity of an immediate adjustment of this entire matter should appeal to the Mexican Government since her people in that locality are dependent upon an uninterrupted flow of the waters of the Colorado River, and a complete and definite understanding with the Government of the United States would have many advantages over the various uncertain agreements with private corporations through which both countries have attempted to work out a partial solution of the problem and to meet present emergencies.
I trust the above will serve as a suggestion as to the procedure which was recommended by the consulting engineers, whose report has just been transmitted by the President to Congress.
I am enclosing herewith a copy of said report1 for such ready reference as you desire to make to it, and should be pleased to transmit from time to time to your Department, as you may desire, such documents and papers as may be found in the Department of the Interior upon this subject.
As bearing upon our own interest in the definite adjustment of this matter with Mexico, permit me to call your attention to the fact [Page 983] that it is reported that there are upwards of ten thousand citizens living in the Imperial Valley and that property to the extent of many millions of dollars has been created, all dependent upon the supply of fresh water derived through a single canal which heads in the United States on the west side of the Colorado River, extending into Mexican territory, thence back to the valley heretofore referred to. Any interruption to the flow of this water will be at the sacrifice of millions of dollars of property of citizens of the United States, and if the supply were suddenly cut off, as it might be at any moment, there would be no possibility of taking out of the Valley all the people and their live-stock quickly enough to save them from intense suffering, or even death by thirst, as there is no fresh water within one hundred miles or more of the locality.
The United States as a land owner has hundreds of thousands of acres of land, the value of which is dependent upon obtaining water from the Colorado River and conducting it through Mexico. The head of the canal adjacent to the Colorado River is in the possession of citizens of the United States. The main trunk line, consisting largely of natural channels leading through Mexico and adjacent to the border of the United States, is under the control of a Mexican corporation now in bankruptcy and in the hands of the Mexican courts. From the canals on Mexican territory water is distributed according to the orders of the Mexican officials to the canals which lead into the United States. The condition has become more and more acute as time goes on, and although the subject of frequent discussion and much correspondence during the past decade apparently nothing has been accomplished as yet toward the solution of the international question.
Yours respectfully,
- Not printed; see House Doc. 504, 62d Cong. 2d sess.↩