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OFFICIAL USE ONLY -2- farmers would be able to work out their financing and other problems and proceed with irrigation. The Ambassador recalled the Joint Communique of the two Presidents issued on June 30, 1962. He said that Mexico understood the Communique to mean that the problem would be taken care of temporarily until October 1963. He said that Mexico thought the salinity of the water had to be down to at least 1600 p.p.m. to be used. The Mexican Commissioner added that Mexico planned with this salinity to divert 20% more water than its treaty allotment for leaching purposes. The Secretary said that people in the United States were most concerned about increased acreage in the Mexicali Valley which prompted requests from Mexico for additional water. The Mexican Ambassador said that he could assure the Secretary that there would be no increase in the planted acreage this winter. He showed the Secretary figures on acreage for the present year as well as previous years. These firgures indicated that the acreage this year will be the same as two years ago but slightly less than last year. The Secretary said he appreciated this assurance. The Secretary said that the Ambassador could assure his people that he would do anything possible to carry out the promise made by the President in the Joint Communique. He noted that Bureau of Reclamation officers are studying on the ground the results of the first sluice and he hoped that there would be some decision on the winter release program very soon. He said that Mexico should be receiving better quality water during the first week in November as a result of a second sluice. He said that as soon as he had a firm decision he would notify the Mexican Ambassador.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,716,065 byte