URUGUAY AND ARGENTINA SIGN TREATY OVER LIMITS OF URUGUAY RIVER
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP08C01297R000800080014-3
Release Decision:
RIFPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
2
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
October 23, 2012
Sequence Number:
14
Case Number:
Publication Date:
April 13, 1961
Content Type:
MEMO
File:
Attachment | Size |
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Body:
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP0I001297R0-00800080014-3
AIFt. UNCLAOIFI.',10 ?
- PRIORITY
(Secunly (.1actilica:lon)
FOREIGN SERVICE PESPATCII
Amembassy MONTEVIDEO
,Ar?
THE DEVARTMENT -OF STATE; WASHINGTON.
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April 13, 1961
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sUBJE'cr, Uruguay frnd.Argentina Sign Treaty Over -Limits of Uruguay River 4/411- 41
Adeed 47A/ GI e 441-19-34
Sine the early days of the Blanco administration a joint rgentine- ?I
Uruguay committee of experts on water rights has been working on a solution
to the long-standing problem of jurisdiction over their joint river, bounda-
ries, the Rio de la Plata and Rio Uruguay.
_
The first step in reaching agreements in this field came on January 30, ?
1961 when the Argentine Ambassador to Uruguay, Gabriel DEL MAZOI.and Uruguay's
.-.Foreiorn Minister, Homero MARTINEZ Montero, signed a declaration establishing
the exterior limits of the huge Rio de la Plata (see Despatch 658, February 3,
1961). This declaration-was.achieved in a spirit of friendship and has pro-
vided a base line for further jurisdictional divisions,
..
. .
.:;. .This action was foliaged on March 1 by the Declaration of Yercedes.which
'
was signed for Argentina by President Arturo' FRONDIZI and.forUruguay by
...-President REDO (see Despatch 733, March 3, 1961). :This declaration was.
signed on the occasion of the Argentine President's visit to Mercedes to
.:participate in the celebrations commemorating the-150th anniversary of the
-"Grito de Asencion (Cry of Asencio). The agreement merely reaffirmed that
both countries should continue to strive in a spirit Of true friendship to
...put an end to the, differences concerning the river boundaries 1,4-Iich had been
unresolved since the formation of the two nations. .
April 7 in Montevideo Argentine Foreign Minister, Dr.-Diogenes?
TABOADA, and Urugwyls MARTINEZ Montero ?signed the most important of these.
-documents to date, a treaty defining the Rio Uruguay boundary between the
:,two countries. This- eleven article treaty employs two distinct systems for
_establishing jurisdiction over the .river area, the talweg and the middle-of-
the-river principles. Generally speaking, for the purposes Of navigation
and. water- rights the division follows the principal channel of navigation...
.Jurisdiction over the numerous islands and their inhabitants is generally
-determined by a line midway between the two banks of the river. To avoid
later confusion and possible disputes, all of the islands and their respec-
tive jurisdictions are named or identified in the treaty itself.
[ -
che Li , Jr/RSC ollins
- REPORTER
UNCLASSIFIED
ACTION .
ASSIGNED TO.
NAME OF _OFFICER
& OFFICE SYMBOL'
IACTION
'.TAKEN
DATE OF I DIRECTIONS
? ACTION I TO RM/R
ACTION COPY ? D7,7212.1T1EITK1 OF STATE
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP08001297R000800080014-3
'
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP08001297R000800080014-3
rage OT
End.
Desp. No.1g9
1From_____Ilontevideo
I ?
UNCLASSIFIED.
(Classification)
.'? ,
?
. _Other provisions of the .treaty assure the continued use of the river by ships
:Of an. nations and calls for joint Uruguay-Argentine responsibility for the con-
Servation, proper maintenance, and security of the river. Both countries are
. allowed .90 days to obtain the necessary ratification. (Four official Foreign
Office .copies of the treaty, in Spanish, are attached.)
- .
.The Problem'of the clear definition ofUruguay's river boundaries with
Argentina has existed for over 130 years. In 1826 the Preliminary,Peace.Agreement
..
..(Convencion?Preliminar de Paz) between Argentina and Uruguay recognized ?the Uruguay
.Riveras.theYborder between the two countries. .The Argentine-Uruguayan.treaties
freenavigation of the Parana and Uruguay Rivers, in 1853, stated that the
,MruguayRiver.was.jointly awned by the two coUntries. In 1916 a treaty defining
the Rivet Uruguay boundary?the Brum Moreno treaty?was signed' but was 'not ratified.
..That treaty used the talweg as the.basis for defining the boundary.
.April 6; 1937-a. Special Commission was established to study the titles tothe
- property in the 'islands .of the Uruguay River, The two principal figures of this
.COmmission were Juan E..PIVEL Devoto,- historian, and Rodolfa FONSECA MUlioz... -
4ricidentallyl'both of these men are members of the Blanco party. The work of this
..:Commission was very valuable preparation for 'the drawing up of the .present. treaty
-on the Uruguay River boundary...
The settlement of the river boundary problem was made something of a personal
project by the late leader of the Herrerista faction, Dr. Luis Alberto HERRERA.
_Ile specially selected Navy Lt. Homero MARTINEZ Montero as Minister of Foreign
Relations for the purpose of getting the problem resolved. He*is also an expert
.on the river boundary question and is the author of a book entitled "El Rio Uruguay.
Geograficap'historia y geopolitica." To him and Prof. Pivel Devoto are ascribed
the main credit for reaching the settlement incorporated in the treaty signed
April 7. The Blancos have hailed this treaty as one of the major accomplishments
of 'their two year administration and the opposition parties have criticized only
the fact that the Blancos are receiving the credit for settling this problem._
With this major portion of the river boundary question settled the long rumored
resignation of Foreign Minister MARTINEZ Montero and his subsequent appointment as
Ambassador to Argentina may soon take place; however, no official statements have
as yet been issued.
?J#.1
r
':Enclosue 7/7i
Treaty-(4).
'*Hoinero Martinez Montero..
. .
For the Charge d'Affaires-ad...interim:
-J;
.
UNCLASSIFIED
Herbert T. Mitchell., Jr.
Third Secretary of Elnbassy
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/23: CIA-RDP08001297R000800080014-3