The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 54, July 1950 - April, 1951 Page: 419
544 p. : ill., ports., maps. (some col.) ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Rio Grande Boundary Dispute
cussions for the acquisition of the Cordova Cut-off and for the
recognition of the United States' claim to the Chamizal. Hughes
desired the cut-off, admittedly Mexican territory, because it
immediately joined the city of El Paso on the American side
of the river. Because of its peculiar geographical position, the
cut-off had become an excellent operating base for persons en-
gaged in the smuggling of liquor, narcotics, and aliens into the
United States. Aside from remedying this situation by making
the Rio Grande the boundary between Juarez and El Paso,
the inclusion of the Cordova lands within the United States would
also make it possible, if it should be found to be desirable, to bring
the railroads into El Paso along the river bank instead of through
the center of the city as at present. ... It would unquestionably be
advantageous if this question could be determined upon its technical
and economic merits without reference to the situation of the inter-
national boundary line.22
Hughes offered an amazingly simple solution for the Chamizal
problem, but Mexican public opinion did not react kindly to
his bland announcement that the question could "be settled sim-
ply by the unconditional relinquishment by Mexico of her claim
on the tract." Although the Secretary was fully cognizant that
the award of 1911 had given the Chamizal to Mexico, he re-
minded Ambassador Charles Beecher Warren that
with regard to the Chamizal tract itself it is very important to bear
in mind in discussing the convention that this Government took the
firm and unalterable position that the so-called Chamizal award of
1911 was both impossible of performance in fact and utterly void as
a matter of law.23
The Chamizal case had been a major source of controversy
with Mexico for more than thirty years and had cost the United
States at least one quarter of a million dollars in unsuccessful
attempts to clear the national title.24 Since the tract comprised
a portion of the city of El Paso valued in excess of $50,000,000,25
Hughes naturally sought a compromise satisfactory to the United
22Hughes to Warren, May 9, 1924, in Foreign Relations, 1925, II, 560.
28Ibid., 559.
24Frank B. Kellogg quoted in United States, Congressional Record (Washington,
1873-), 70th Congress, Ist Session, 2326.
25Congressional Record, 7oth Cong., 1st Sess., 2635.419
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 54, July 1950 - April, 1951, periodical, 1951; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101133/m1/565/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.