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<br />20 <br /> <br />= <br />c.,) <br />c.,) <br />,Q) <br /> <br />1,150,000 acre-feet, one of the several offers, "would repre- <br />sent the total assured deliveries to Mexico from any source <br />whatsoever of the Colorado River Basin and its tributaries <br />in the United States." Nonetheless it is' clear that the <br />watcr sought was to be utilized for the irrigation of <br />cultivable lands. Thc correspondence initiated by thc <br />United States in 1939 which is set out above indicates that <br />the United States was interested in a trcaty providing an <br />amount of water which would confirm present uses in both <br />countries while Mexico was interested in a quantity which <br />would take into consideration possible future uses. The <br />ncgotiations which went forward from 1941 procecded <br />upon the desire of Mcxico to conclude a treaty providing <br />a quantity of water which would consider existing urban <br />and farm requirements as well as reasonable possibilities <br />of extension in the future. While the correspondence, <br />therefore, does not deal with the quality of waters to be <br />delivered it does indicate that both governments were <br />aware of the importance of Colorado River waters to the <br />irrigation of lands in Mexico. In this respect we think the <br />correspondence militates against an interpretation of the <br />treaty which would allow credit for the delivery of highly <br />saline groundwater artifICially introduced into the river <br />in such quantities as to materially affect the quality of <br />water delivered. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3. Proceedings Leading to Ralilication <br /> <br />The Committee on Foreign Relations of the United <br />States Senate held hearings in 1945 to consider whether <br />advice and ,consent should be given tQ ratification of the <br />treaty. During these hearings and later in debate in the <br />Senate the question of quality of waters to be delivered <br />under the treaty was discussed at considerable length. An <br />examination of the testimony of authoritative witnesses <br />at these hearings is instructive, we think, in determining <br />the intention of the parties with respect to particular <br />provisions of the treaty. We have divided the following <br /> <br />'---'-"-'"-,~,,,_._.,...,...--,- <br /> <br />