Letter Authorizing Communication with Mexican Commissioner

Letter: From Thomas C. Mann, to Joseph F. Friedkin, September 2, 1964, page 1U.S.DEPT. OF INTERIOR RECEIVED SEP 3 9 01 AM'64 IMMEDIATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY SEP 2 1964 ARA/MEX Dear Mr. commissioner: I refer to my letter of July 1, 1964 in which you were authorized to negotiate with the Mexican Commissioner for the purpose of achieving a permanent and effective solution to the Colorado River salinity problem. I also refer to your memoranda of conversation of the meeting with the Mexican Commissioner on August 10, 1964 in which he confirmed that: (1) he could not recommend to his Government a by-pass channel solution based on a l.5:1 salt ratio in effluent from the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation Division, but could recommend to his Government the acceptance of such a solution only if it was based on a salt balance index at or very close to 1:1; and (2) Mexico would not object if the United States decided to install tile drains as a solutions. You are authorized to inform the Mexican Commissioner that the United States Government, subject to the approval of the United States Congress, is contemplating the installation of a gravity system in the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation Division to achieve a permanent and effective solution to the salinity problem. You should seek from the Mexican commissioner a reply to your letter of July 1, 1964, which reply would accept gravity drains as the permanent and effective solution contemplated by the Presidents of the United States and Mexico in their Joint Communiques of June 30, 1962 and February 22, 1964. The Department desires, if practical, to review the terms of the Mexican reply before it is officially transmitted to you. the Honorable Joseph F. Friedkin, United States Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission, El Paso, Texas.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,771,971 byte