WSP01132

• File Number: 8278.400
• Description: Title I - Mexican Treaty
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 11/15/1944
• Author: Six States Committee
• Title: The Pending Mexican Treaty - A Sound Solution of a Difficult Problem
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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partment of State for tbe definition of the Mexican
right to Colorado River water. The states of Ari-
zona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
approved the formula. Nevada declined to vote.
Only California opposed the formula. The provi-
sions of the Treaty which is now pending before the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the United
States Senate define the rights of Mexico to Colo-
rado River water in a manner which is fully in
accordance with such formula.

With the transmittal of the Treaty by the Presi-
dent to the Senall' aggressive opposition from Cali-
fornia at once developed. Strangely enough, this
opposition does not base its major public attack
either upon the desirability for, or necessity of, a
Treaty with Mexico or upon the definition of the
amount of water allotted to Mexico. Instead, it
avoids these points and aims its heavy artillery at
other features of the treaty, particularly those of an
administrative nature. In so doing, the opponents
are endeavoring to appeal to the increasing public
sentiment against extension of Federal bureaucracy
and against Federal encroachment on the jurisdis-
lion of the states over the development of their own
water resources. In the furtherance of such a cam-
paign, many documents have been given wide cir-
culation; and it must be recognized that they have
had considerable appeal to those who are unfamiliar
with the situation. The best answer which can be
made to any attack upon the Treaty is to insist that
the Treaty be read. If the states urging ratifica-
tion of the Treaty believed that there was any
danger of the nationalization of streams, of the crea-
tion of an all-powerful Federal bureau which would
wield judicial, administrative, and regulatory power