File No. 711.1216M/326.

The Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of State.

Sir: Replying to your letter of recent date, with reference to the proposed negotiations with Mexico on the Colorado River, in which letter you say:

Before taking this question up again with the Mexican Government it would be advantageous to know whether it is your desire that the commission already existing, increased by the appointment of competent engineers by each Government, shall be utilized for the work your Department has now in mind, or whether you prefer that I propose to the Government of Mexico the abolition of this commission and the appointment of an entirely new one.

I am of the opinion, after looking carefully into the duties and powers of the present commission and the purpose for which it was appointed, that the same will not suffice and could not well be made to answer the requirements in this case, but that the public interest will be better served by the appointment of an entirely new commission with broad powers and composed of men from each country of known standing and familiarity with the subject [Page 985] to be dealt with. Said commission should not be limited to engineers but should permit of the appointment of some members familiar with the legal and diplomatic issues necessarily involved.

It is my thought that a commission so composed should be given a broad latitude and directed to go into every phase of the Colorado River matter in which both countries are interested, to the end that said commission may formulate a report on the whole subject, with proper recommendations, to be submitted to each country, with the hope that the two countries may then enter into a permanent agreement, along the lines laid down by said commission, for the final disposition of all international phases of the Colorado River problem.

Very respectfully,

Walter L. Fisher.