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6 You will note that I have underscored the following words* .provided the interests of the Government were protected.M That was my position then, that was my position then I ap­peared before the Colorado River Commission in \9 k9 at the Thunderbird Hotel, and that is my position today. It is important to bear in mind that every statement and every comment that I have made has contained a similar provision. I cannot represent the taxpayers of America without such a reservation and I do not intend to recede from that position nor do I believe those fair-minded among you would have any respect for me or my office if I did so. As a result of that letter, Mr* Mueller opened negoti­ations with the Colorado River Commission and in due course, that Commission did transmit to me a proposition for leasing to the Las Vegas Irrigation District the water facility of EMI for a period of I|0 years. Such lease was irrevocable and extending far beyond the term of the agreement between the State of Nevada and the United States. The general provisions provided, after full utilization of the facility by the Las Vegas Water District, a certain amount would be available to Basic Magnesium Plant. Obviously, I could not protect the future expansion and development of the tremen­dous investments of BMI if I approved such a plan. There­fore, I turned it down in a letter to the Chairman of the Colorado River Commission dated July 2k, 1951, and went into some detail as to the conditions that would have to be met before I could legally approve such a transaction. I further stated in part in that letter as follows: