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.. . It.l',~r~ o(fr'~~;':& 2 ~:!~ ;~.t- .'.. \.j Senate Bills 418-422 incl. provide for the settlement of pending or threatened interstate oontroversiea respe(rting rival'S rising in Colorado and flowingCinto other states, as matters of policy and comity between illa states, by interstate oompaots or treaties, in the manner :ro1 1 owed by nations in settlement of preblems conoerning inter- natiONal rivers. The appropriation in the Water Defense Bill (S.B.4l7) has seen amlarged to inolude all neeessary expense ineident to any interstate adjustment respeoting any of' the five rivers , oonoerning whioh treaty measurements have been passed, viz. the Colorado, La Plata, Arkansas, South Platte and Laramie Rivers. One "COIlllllinioner" or Ambassador represents Colorado on one or all rivers. Disputes between independaat nations are settled either ~ treaty or by war. It is a rule of' international law that diplomaey should be emausted before resort to -war. International disputes respecting rivers have always been settled as matters of policy .and by treaties. Had these diaputes :railed of settlement by treaties they might have arisen to the.point of resort to arms. But the very nature of ever~ flowing rivers has facilitated settlements b;y deliberate negoti:!ltion and hasty oonclusions by reaort to arms have beel!l 8lToidecl.. ,." Prior to the union of the thirteen original states, each had all the treaty powers of an independent Jlation.. While, by the Con- stitutiol!l, the states s'\H"reRderecl. sertain of' their powers to the Central government they still retained tha ~ower of entering into treaties among themselves with aOllsent of Congress.. While they surrendered their right to settle their interstate disputes by resort to.arms, they substituted ill. lieu of war the right of: chigine.l il!lterstate suits bef:ore the Supreme.