BOARD01455

• Board Meeting Date: 6/9/1942
• Description: Table of Contents and Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Minutes

I.

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124

Royce J. Tipton continued the discussion of the engineering aspects of
the Mexican problem on the Colorado River.

At the oonclusion of Mr. Tipton's discussion, Frank C. Merriell, Seoretary_
Engineer of the Colorado River Water Conservation Distriot, was called upon to
further explain the engineering aspects involved and to present his views of
the problem. Mr. Merriell gave an explanation of a statement which he had pre-
pared concerning the international boundary question between the united States
and Mexico with relation to water problems of the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers.
He reviewed the historical background of the problem, discussed potential water
supply, the relation of the provisions of the Colorado River Compact to the
problem, the present situation on the lower Colorado River, probable Mexican
demands, status of irrigation development in Mexico and the oonstruotion of im-
provements for regulation and flood control on the lower Colorado which would
be of great benefit to both countries and a probable inducement to Mexico in
making a treaty.

Following the presentation of the engineering phase of the subject. Director
Stone presented and analyzed the report of the legal committee appointed by the
Committee of Fourteen to study legal phases involved in the question of al-
location of Colorado River water between the United States and Mexico. (The
report of the legal committee appears in the forepart of these minutes).

Mr. Stone's statement was supplemented by one made by Attorney General
Ireland, who served on the legal committee.

It was suggested, and Director Stone agreed, that copies of the memoranda
prepared by the state Department and the International Boundary Commissioner
with respect to legal questions involved would be furnished to all members of
the board and all those in attendance at the meeting.

A general discussion of the Mexican problem continued until the hour of
adjournment when it was suggested that Mr. Tipton and Mr. Merriell, before the
meeting reoonvenes on the following day, prepare a memorandum for the uSe of
the board in working out a statement of policy.

The meeting recessed at 5:20 p.m. to reconvene at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday
morning, June 10, 1942.

The meeting reconvened on June 10, 1942 at 10:20 a.m. and was called to
order by the Chairman. Governor Ralph L. Carr.

Further discussion concerning the Mexican problem, after further engineer-
ing disoussion by Mr. Tipton and Mr. Merriell, ensued.

It was moved, seconded and carried that the ohairman appoint a
committee to draft a statement, designed to express the policy of the
Colorado Water Conservation Board with respect to the allocation of
water be~~een the United States and Mexico on the Colorado River.

Governor Carr appoL,ted Clifford H. Stone, Frank C. Merriell, Judge John
B. O'Rourke, C. L. Patterson and M. C. Hinderlider.

Thereupon the meeting adjourned at 11155 a.m. to reconvene at 2:00 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 3:00 p.m., Governor Ralph L. Carr presiding.