WSP01020

• File Number: 8278.400
• Description: Title I - Mexican Treaty
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 8/29/1944
• Author: Six States Committee
• Title: A Statement by the 6 States Committee Supporting Ratification of the Proposed Treaty Between the United States and Mexico With Respect to the Waters of the Colorado, Tijuana,and Rio Grande Rivers
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

A Statement

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The undersigned Committee, representing six of the
states most vitally concerned with the water treaty with
Mexico, signed at Washington on February 3, 1944, and
now pending before the United States Senate for its advice
and consent.to ratification, unreservedly endorses the treaty
and. urges its ratification. Briefly stated, the reasons why
these six states are supporting the treaty are as follows:

Colorado River

1. The allocation of 1,500.000 acre feet of water an-
nually to Mexico is fair and equitable to both countries.

a. It is in accordance with treaty precedents, including
treaties to which the United States is a party. The numer-
ous international water treaties among the civilized nations
of the world are. based primarily upon the recognition of
existing nses and in most cases provision is made for ex-
pansion in both the upper and lower states within the limits
of the existing water supply. In 1943 Mexico used in excess
of 1,800,000 acre feet of water. The present treaty guar-
antees her only 1,500,000 acre feet per year, subject to
reduction in times of extraordinary drought. [Far from
permitting any expansion of uses in Mexico, therefore, if
the remaining supply is ultimately entirely used in the
United States, present Mexican uses will have to be cur-
tailed.] In the meantime, of the estimated average annual
undepleted runoff of something over 18,000,000 acre feet
of the Colorado River System at the boundary, about

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