FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 4 2, VOLUME VI



a complete regularization of the current of those affluents, the Govern-
ment of Mexico would need to construct very expensive works which
are out of proportion to the utility which would be obtained from
them. In view of the foregoing, it does not seem fair for Mexico
alone to endure the injuries resulting from lack of precipitation.
Nor does it seem fair that, in order to meet such certain contingencies,
the valleys of such affluents should be deprived not only of any future
development, but even of their present uses.
  The Government of Mexico, in exchange, proposes a distribution
by equal parts of the general flow of the Rio Bravo, and-as the
Mexican affluents furnish this general flow with more than double
the volume coming from American tributaries-it is obvious that,
in the fifty per cent corresponding to the United States of America
there are included: a) all contributions by American affluents; b)
fifty per cent of the flow coming from non-evaluated, transitory and
small sources; and c) a little more than a fourth of the total flow
which reaches the Rio Bravo from Mexican affluents.
  Accordingly, in abundant and in normal years, the amount thus
formed will be equal to or greater than that desired by the Government
of the United States of America and only in dry years will it be less;
but it will be less in the same proportion as Mexico has the water
corresponding to it reduced. With this procedure, the two countries
will feel the injuries resulting from droughts fairly and propor-
tionately. Furthermore, the international storage dams on the chan-
nel of the Rio Bravo will be able to regularize the utilization of
the river for the purpose of meeting the deficiencies in the dry years,
provided that a great many consecutive periods of drought do not
occur.
  The proposal of the Government of Mexico is based on the fact
that available studies indicate that present uses and possible future
uses in the valley of Mexican and American affluents will not be able
completely to exhaust such streams and, accordingly, there will always
be a remainder which, united to waters from freshets, returns, etc.,
which will be stored in the international dams, will be sufficient to
furnish water at the run-offs made in those international works to
meet the needs of both banks. Under the foregoing conditions, the
amount corresponding to American riparian lands will be approxi-
mately what the Government of the United States of America seeks
in proposing a fixed quota, furnished by the Mexican affluents.
  The said proposal may be supplemented by the possibility that,
upon the approval of the two countries, each of them may consume
in a specified stretch of the river or at a certain storage dam or group
of dams a greater volume than corresponds to it, provided that the
difference in excess will be made up to the other country in another
stretch or in one or more other dams.



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