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~-n!"')2l7. - u u ~.. 1 40/Friedkin . 'The United States w1ll support efforts by Mexico to obtain appropriate financing on favorable terms for the improvement and rehab1l1tation of the [lrrigation works in the] Mex1cali Valley. The United States w1ll also provide nonreimbursable assistance on a basis mutually aceeptable to both countries exclusively for those aspects of the Mexican rehab1l1tation program . . . relating to the salinity problem, including We drainage." . The agreement is to be a "permanent and definitive so- lution" to the salinity problem as contemplated by the Joint Presidential Communique of June 17, 1972. . 'The measures required to Implement this Resolution shall be undertaken and completed at the earliest practical date," and the United States agreed to seek prompt funding for construction of the works needed to fu1f1llits agreement. The White House press release said that this agreement signified achievement of President Nixon's desire to find a permanent and definitive solution, and resolution of a prob- lem that had plagued United States-Mexican relations for more than twelve years. It further noted that the agreement demonstrates the United States' willingness to work with Mex- ico to remove inequities in -relations between the two coun- tries, and shows that - through mutual effort and with good - wlll on both sides - deeply conflicting interests between na- tions of this hemisphere can be reconciled constructively and amicably. At the same time, the problem is resolved in a way that rnin1rnlzes any loss of water to the Colorado River Basin states. The White House further said that measures necessary to implement the agreement were expected to promote desalting technology through the construction of the world's largest de- salting plant that was required to meet the United States' obli- gations. The solution also was described as benefiting United States water users through improved efflciency in lrrigatlon water use. better control of Colorado River water quality, and further incentives to conserve and augment the water supply of the West. Authorizing Legislation In passing Public Law 93-3208 on June 24, 1974, Congress authorized and directed the Secretary of the Interior to proceed with a program of works to enable the United States to comply with its obligations under Minute No. 242. The Secretary was authorized to construct a desalting complex to remove salts from the Wellton-Mohawk drainage waters.9 The desalting .