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<br />- <br /> <br />....... <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />'~ <br /> <br />w <br />CD <br />CD <br />o <br /> <br />By the end of 1971, the united States operations under <br /> <br />Minute 218, together with gradual improvement of the Well ton- <br /> <br />Mohawk drainage water, had reduced the average annual salinity <br /> <br />of waters made available to Mexico from 1500 parts per million <br /> <br />to 1240 parts per million. <br /> <br />Before Minute 218 was to have expired in November 1970, the <br /> <br />United States offered Mexico a new minute for another five-year <br /> <br />period. However, the administration of President Diaz Ordaz <br /> <br />decided to leave the matter to the new administration of President <br /> <br />Echeverria, which took office in December 1970. Minute 218 was <br /> <br />therefore extended for only one year. <br /> <br />In 1971 and early 1972, the governments exchanged several <br /> <br />proposals in an attempt to reach an agreement, extending Minute <br /> <br />218 in November 1971 for another year so that discussions might <br /> <br />be continued. The two countries failed to reach an agreement <br /> <br />after further discussions in the first part of 1972. <br /> <br />Mexican officials indicated that, to Mexico, the principal <br /> <br />issue was the difference in quality between the water available <br /> <br />to United States users below Imperial Dam (about 850 parts per <br /> <br />million for most part) and the water delivered to Mexico at the <br /> <br />International Boundary in compliance with the water treaty (then <br /> <br />averaging aQout 1240 parts per million). The main source of <br /> <br />this difference in quality was the drainage from the Wellton- <br /> <br />Mohawk District. <br /> <br />The Presidents of the United States and Mexico met in <br /> <br />Washington in June 1972. The salinity issue was discussed at <br /> <br />that time, and it figured prominently in their Joint Communique <br />