Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1928, Volume II

711.42157 R 72/42

The Secretary of State to the Canadian Chargé (Wrong)

Washington, August 4, 1928.

Sir: Referring to the Department’s note to your Legation of July 6, 1928,⁴⁰ I have been advised that Mr. N. C. Grover, Chief Hydraulic Engineer, United States Geological Survey, and Mr. R. de B. Corriveau, Chief Engineer, Department of Public Works of Canada, met at Winnipeg on July 9 and 10, at which time they drafted and signed a memorandum of proposed terms of submission of the Roseau River drainage problem to the International Joint Commission.

A copy of the memorandum signed by Mr. Grover and Mr. Corriveau, is enclosed herewith. The form of reference proposed by Messrs. Grover and Corriveau is satisfactory to the Government of the United States. Please advise me whether the form of reference proposed by Messrs. Grover and Corriveau is satisfactory to the Government of Canada and whether the Canadian Government is now ready to have the Roseau River drainage matter submitted to the International Joint Commission for investigation, report and recommendations.

With respect to the suggestion made in your Legation’s note of June 16, 1928, that Mr. Grover on the occasion of his visit to Winnipeg examine the works now under construction along the Roseau River on the Canadian side of the boundary, I have to inform you that Mr. Grover reports that although he is of the opinion from such data as he was able to obtain that the danger that the works in Canada would substantially increase the stages of waters at the international boundary and cause injury on the United States side of the boundary is remote, yet he is not in a position to form an opinion whether those works would constitute a unit of a coordinated system for the control of the waters of the Roseau River on both sides of the boundary. Inasmuch as one of the questions which it is proposed to submit to the International Joint Commission for investigation and report is whether it is practicable and desirable to coordinate projects for the control of the waters of the Roseau River and its tributaries on both sides of the boundary, it would seem desirable that the construction of works on the Canadian side be suspended until the International Joint Commission shall have had an opportunity to investigate the problem of drainage in the Roseau Valley and to have made its report and recommendations in order that the works in Canada may not prove to be an obstacle to the adoption of the recommendations of the International Joint Commission if its recommendations are acceptable to the two Governments.

Accept [etc.]

Frank B. Kellogg

[Enclosure]

Terms of Reference, Signed at Winnipeg, July 10, 1928

Questions Recommended for Submission to the International Joint Commission Relative to the Roseau River and Its Tributaries in the State of Minnesota and the Province of Manitoba

1. In order to insure the most advantageous development of lands in the State of Minnesota and the Province of Manitoba affected by the waters of Roseau River and its tributaries, and to provide for the control of the flood waters of the Roseau River and its tributaries, is it practicable and desirable to co-ordinate projects for the control of the waters of Roseau River and its tributaries on both sides of the Boundary? If so, what are the controlling features of such co-ordinated projects, what measures are recommended in order to insure them and in what way should these measures be made effective?

2. Will the protective works adjoining Roseau River in Manitoba as now projected by the Government of the Dominion of Canada have the effect of raising the natural level of the river on the United States side of the Boundary? If so, what changes or modifications are recommended? Do these works constitute a unit of a co-ordinated system contemplated by question 1?

3. What has been the effect, if any, of drainage and other works designed to control the waters of Roseau River and its tributaries in Manitoba and Minnesota on flood flows of Roseau and Red Rivers? If remedial or protective structures and/or measures are found by the Commission to be, or to have been necessary to provide for any change in flood flow caused by such works, on what Basis should the costs incident to such structures and/or measures be apportioned between the United States and Canada? What additional remedial or protective structures, and/or measures, if any, will be required to provide for changes in flood flows of Roseau and Red Rivers attributable to future works designed to control the waters of Roseau River and on what basis should the costs of such structures and/or measures be apportioned between the two countries?

R. de B. corriveau

Representing the Dominion of Canada

N. C. Grover

Representing the United States

Winnipeg, Manitoba, July 10, 1928.

40. Not printed.