boundary between the two countries and growing out of changes in the beds of the boundary streams, works constructed in these streams, or out of any other cause affecting the boundary. The fluvial boundary, consisting of portions of the Rio Grande, 1,240 miles, and of the Colorado River, 20 miles, was originally established under the treaties of 1848 and 1853, and has been further regulated by the treaties of 1884, 1889, 1905, 1933, and 1944.

The Commission's jurisdiction was extended by the treaty concluded February 3, 1944, to the overland boundary, a distance of 675 miles westward from El Paso, Tex., to the Pacific Ocean; and to works located on the boundary, both land and fluvial, each section of the Commission retaining jurisdiction over that part of the works located within the limits of its own country.

ACTIVITIES.-The Commission is empowered to suspend the construction of works in the Rio Grande or the Colorado River that contravene existing treaties; erect and maintain monuments along the boundary; make necessary surveys of changes in the bed of either river resulting from force of current; mark and eliminate bancos caused by such changes; survey, place, and maintain monuments on all international bridges between the two countries. The Commission is authorized to call for papers and information relative to boundary matters; summon witnesses and take testimony. If both commissioners agree to a decision, their judgment is binding on both Governments, unless one of them shall disapprove it within one month from the date on which it shall have been pronounced.

The Commission was charged by the treaty of 1933 with the construction and maintenance of the Rio Grande Rectification Project in the El PasoJuarez Valley.

The treaty concluded February 3, 1944, provides for the equitable distribution between the two countries of waters of the Colorado River and of the Rio Grande below Fort Quitman, Tex., construction of storage dams and other works on these streams for the maximum utilization of the waters thereof by the two countries, including the generation of hydroelectric energy at the international storage dams on the Rio Grande, and for the control of floods; and provides for studies and investigations in connection with the equitable distribution between the two countries of waters of the Tijuana River system and for storage and flood control of such waters. Under the treaty the two Governments also agree to give preferential attention to the solution of border sanitation problems. The application of the treaty, regulation, and exercise of the rights and obligations assumed thereunder by the two Governments, and settlement of all disputes to which its observance and execution may give rise are entrusted to the Commission. The protocol to the treaty, signed November 14, 1944, further defines the jurisdiction of the Commission and each section thereof and of the interior agencies of each country, with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of treaty works. The treaty specifies the Department of State of the United States of America and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Mexico as the agencies to represent the two Governments in all cases in which joint action or joint agreement by the Governments is required under the treaty. The same agencies exercise supervision as to policy over their respective sections of the Commission.

Supervisory administration of the terms of the convention of May 21, 1906, under which the United States delivers to Mexico at a point opposite El Paso, Tex., 60,000 acre-feet of water annually and in accordance with an

agreed delivery schedule, is exercised by the United States Section of the Commission. The act approved August 29, 1935 (49 Stat. 961), authorized the construction, operation, and maintenance by the United States Section of a diversion dam (known as the American Dam) on the Rio Grande just above El Paso, Tex., among other purposes to facilitate compliance with the convention of May 21, 1906, and properly to regulate and control the water supply as provided by that convention. Construction, operation, and maintenance by the United States Section of the Rio Grande Canalization Project, consisting of the canalization of almost 100 miles of the river between Caballo Dam, in New Mexico, and the American Dam, was authorized by the act of June 4, 1936 (49 Stat. 1463).

The act approved August 19, 1935 (49 Stat. 660; amended 49 Stat. 1370; 22 U. S. C. 277-277d), authorizing the President to designate the United States Commissioner of the then Internation Boundary Commission to cooperate with representatives of Mexico in studies for the development of information for the negotiation of a water treaty with Mexico, also authorized the Secretary of State, acting through the United States Commissioner, to conduct investigations relating to the defining, demarcation, fencing, or monumentation of the land and water boundary between the United States and Mexico, flood control, water resources, conservation and utilization of water, sanitation and prevention of pollution, channel rectification and stabilization, and other related matters upon the international boundary; and to construct and maintain fences, monuments, and other demarcations of the boundary, and sewer systems, water systems, and electric light, power, and gas systems crossing the international border, and to continue such work and operations as were then in progress and authorized by law. The act contains an authori

zation to construct, operate, and maintain on the Rio Grande below Fort Quitman, Tex., such works as are recommended to the President as the result of said investigations and are deemed by him to be necessary and proper; to construct any works which might be provided for in a treaty with Mexico; to repair, protect, maintain, or complete works then existing or under construction; and to construct any works designed to facilitate compliance with the provisions of treaties between the United States and Mexico. Provision is also made for the acquisition of the necessary lands and easements.

The jurisdiction and functions of the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission were further delineated in the act approved September 13, 1950 (64 Stat. 846; 22 U. S. C. Sup. 277d-1-277d-8), known as the "American-Mexican Treaty Act of 1950." This act authorizes the Secretary of State to relocate roads, railroads, utilities, and other properties, the relocation of which is necessitated by the construction or operation and maintenance of any authorized project of the United States Section, and authorizes the purchase, exchange, or conveyance of properties necessary for this purpose. It also authorizes the United States Commissioner to construct and operate roads, railways, power lines, buildings, and other facilities necessary in connection with such projects, and provides in detail the purposes for which expenditures of appropriated funds may be made by the United States Section. The act also authorizes the United States Commissioner to acquire certain properties in order to comply with the provisions of Articles 12 and 23 of the Treaty of February 3, 1944, between the United States and Mexico. Finally, the act authorizes the Secretary of State, subject to certain conditions, to enter into

CREATION AND PURPOSE.-Organized in 1911 pursuant to the treaty between the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, signed January 11, 1909, the object of which is "to prevent disputes regarding the use of boundary waters and to settle questions which are now pending between the United States and Canada involving the rights, obligations, or interests of either in relation to the other or to the inhabitants of the other, along their common frontier, and to make provision for the adjustment and settlement of all such questions as may hereafter arise."

ORGANIZATION.-The Commission consists of six members, three appointed by the President of the United States and three appointed by the Government of Canada.

ACTIVITIES.-The Commission has jurisdiction over all cases involving the use or obstruction or diversion of boundary waters between the United States and Canada, of waters flowing from boundary waters, and of waters at a lower level than the boundary in rivers flowing across the boundary.

Under article IX of the treaty the Commission examines and reports

LEN JORDAN.

ROGER B. MCWHORTER. EUGENE W. Weber.

JESSE B. ELLIS.

A. G. L. MCNAUGHTON (Ottawa, Canada). GEORGE SPENCE (Regina, Canada).

J. LUCIEN

DANSEREAU

(Montreal, Canada).

E. M. SUTHERLAND.

upon any questions or matters of difference arising along the common frontier that may be referred to it by either government.

Under article X of the treaty any questions or matters of difference arising between the high contracting parties involving the rights, obligations, or interests of the United States or of Canada, either in relation to each other or to their respective inhabitants, may be referred for decision to the Commission, such action to be with the consent of the Senate of the United States and the Government of Canada.

Under article VI of the treaty the Commission is charged with the measurement and apportionment from time to time of the waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers and their tributaries. These rivers, partly in Montana and partly in Alberta and Saskatchewan, are largely used for irrigation purposes in both countries.

Under article IV of the treaty it is agreed that the boundary waters shall not be polluted on either side to the injury of health or property on the other.

CREATION AND

AUTHORITY.-The

Governments of Mexico and the United States on January 12, 1942, announced the organization of a mixed defense commission. The United States Section of the Joint Mexican-United States Defense Commission was officially established by Executive Order 9080 of February 27, 1942.

PURPOSE. The purposes of the Commission are to study problems relating to the common defense of the United States and Mexico, to consider broad plans for the defense of Mexico and adjacent areas of the United States, and to propose to the respective governments the cooperative measures which, in its opinion, should be adopted.