Agreement Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States on Boundary Waters, Tlatelolco and Mexico City, 1976

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Translation

TLATELOLCO, D.F., November 24, 1976

His Excellency JOSEPH JOHN JOVA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mexico City

No. 513118

MR. AMBASSADOR:

I have the honor to refer to the Decree adding to Article 27 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone of Mexico outside the Territorial Sea, and to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 establishing a Fishery Conservation Zone off the coast of the United States of America.

I also have the honor to refer to the conversations which have taken place between representatives of the Government of Mexico and the Government of the United States of America, in which it was understood that the creation of the above-mentioned Zones will require the establishment of maritime boundaries between the two countries.

With regard to the foregoing, I take the liberty of pointing out that our two countries have not yet delimited their respective continental shelves beyond 12 nautical miles seaward from the respective coasts, and that the present arrangement with respect to maritime boundaries, based on the Treaty to Resolve Pending Boundary Differences and Maintain the Rio Grande and Colorado River as the International Boundary, concluded in 1970, only extends the maritime boundary to 12 nautical miles.

Inasmuch as the Mexican Government has established, by means of the Decree of June 7, 1976, the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mexico, and taking into account the fact that those limits include three segments contiguous to the Fishery Conservation Zone of the United States of America, which will become effective on March 1, 1977, the Mexican authorities deem it desirable to establish at this time the maritime boundaries between the two countries in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico out to 200 nautical miles seaward counting from the baselines used to measure the breadth of the territorial sea.

Taking into account the fact that all the necessary technical work entailed in such definitive delimitation could not be completed before the entry into force of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of the United States of America, I take the liberty of proposing that, pending final determination by treaty of the maritime boundaries between the two countries off both coasts, the following lines be provisionally recognized as such boundaries:

In the Pacific Ocean:

(a) A geodesic line from 32°35°22.11° north latitude, 117°27°49.42° west longitude to 32°37°37.00° north latitude, 117°49°31.00° west longitude;

(b) A geodesic line from 32°37°37.00° north latitude, 117°49°31.00° west longitude to 31°07°58.00° north longitude, 118°36°18.00° west longitude;

(c) A geodesic line from 31°07°58.00° north latitude, 118°36°18.00° west longitude to 30°32°31.20° north latitude, 121°51°58.37° west longitude.

In the Western Gulf of Mexico:

(a) A geodesic line from 25°58°30.57° north latitude, 96°55°27.37° west longitude to 26°00°31.00° north latitude, 96°49°29.00° west longitude;

(b) A geodesic line from 26°00°31.00° north latitude, 96°48°29.00° west longitude to 26°00°30.00° north latitude, 95°39°26.00° west longitude;

(c) A geodesic line from 26°00°30.00° north latitude, 95°39°26.00° west longitude to 25°59°48.28° north latitude, 93°26°42.19° west longitude.

In the Eastern Gulf of Mexico:

(a) A geodesic line from 25°42°13.05° north latitude, 91°05°24.89° west longitude to 25°46°52.00° north latitude, 90°29°41.00° west longitude.

(b) A geodesic line from 25°46°52.00° north latitude, 90°29°41.00° west longitude to 25°41°56.52° north latitude, 88°23°05.54° west longitude.

The above coordinates have been determined using baselines referred to the North American Datum of 1927. It would be understood between the two Governments that on the north side of such lines Mexico will not, and on the south side of such lines the United States will not, for any purpose, claim or exercise sovereign rights or jurisdiction over the waters or seabed and subsoil. It would be further understood that such lines will not affect or prejudge in any manner the positions of either Government with respect to the extent of internal waters, of the territorial sea, of the high seas, or of sovereign rights or jurisdiction for any other purpose.

On the basis of the foregoing, I have the honor to propose to Your Excellency that if the terms stipulated herein are acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, this note and Your Excellency's reply shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest and most distinguished consideration.

MEXICO, D. F., November 24, 1976

His Excellency DR. ALFONSO GARCA ROBLES, Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mexico, D. F.

No. 2165

EXCELLENCY:

I have the honor to refer to your Note No. 513118 of November 24, 1976, concerning certain maritime boundaries between the United States and Mexico, which reads in English as follows:

‘His Excellency, Joseph John Jova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mexico City, Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to refer to the Decree adding to Article 27 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone of Mexico outside the Territorial Sea, and to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 establishing a Fishery Conservation Zone off the coast of the United States of America.

I also have the honor to refer to the conversations which have taken place between representatives of the Government of Mexico and the Government of the United States of America, in which it was understood that the creation of the above-mentioned Zones will require the establishment of Maritime Boundaries between the two countries.

In view of the foregoing, I take the liberty of pointing out that our two countries have not yet delimited their respective Continental Shelves beyond 12 nautical miles seaward from the respective coasts, and that the present arrangement with respect to Maritime Boundaries, based on the Treaty to resolve pending boundary differences and maintain the Ro Grande and Colorado Rivers as the International Boundary, concluded in 1970, only extends the Maritime Boundary 12 nautical miles.

Inasmuch as the Mexican Government has established, by means of the Decree of June 7, 1976, the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mexico, and taking into account the fact that those limits include three segments contiguous to the Fishery Conservation Zone of the United States of America, which will become effective on March 1, 1977, the Mexican authorities deem it desirable to establish at this time the Maritime Boundaries between the two countries in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico out to 200 nautical miles seaward counting from the baselines used to measure the breadth of the Territorial Sea.

Taking into account the fact that all the necessary technical work entailed in such definitive delimitation could not be completed before the entry into force of the Fishery Conservation Zone of the United States of America, I take the liberty of proposing that, pending final determination by treaty of the Maritime Boundaries between the two countries off both coasts, the following lines be provisionally recognized as such boundaries:

In the Pacific Ocean:

(a) A geodesic line from 32°35°22.11° north latitude, 117°27°49.42° west longitude, to 32°37°37.00° north latitude, 117°49°31.00° west longitude;

(b) A geodesic line from 32°37°37.00° north latitude, 117°49°31.00° west longitude; to 31°07°58.00° north latitude, 118°36°18.00° west longitude;

(c) A geodesic line from 31°07°58.00° north latitude, 118°36°18.00° west longitude; to 30°32°31.20° north latitude, 121°51°58.37° west longitude;

In the Western Gulf of Mexico:

(a) A geodesic line from 25°58°30.57° north latitude, 96°55°27.37° west longitude; to 26°00°31.00° north latitude, 96°48°29.00° west longitude;

(b) A geodesic line from 26°00°31.00° north latitude, 96°48°29.00° west longitude; to 26°00°30.00° north latitude, 95°39°26.00° west longitude.

(c) A geodesic line from 26°00°30.00° north latitude; 95°39°26.00° west longitude; to 25°59°48.28° north latitude, 93°26°42.19° west longitude.

In the Eastern Gulf of Mexico:

(a) A geodesic line from 25°42°13.05° north latitude; 91°05°24.89° west longitude; to 25°46°52.00° north latitude; 90°29°41.00° west longitude.

(b) A geodesic line from 25°46°52.00° north latitude; 90°29°41.00° west longitude; to 25°41°56.52° north latitude, 88°23°05.54° west longitude.

The above coordinates have been determined using baselines referred to the North American Datum of 1927. It would be understood between the two Governments that on the north side of such lines Mexico would not, and on the south side of such lines the United States would not, for any purpose, claim or exercise sovereign rights or jurisdiction over the waters or seabed and subsoil. It would be further understood that such lines would not affect or prejudice in any manner the positions of either government with respect to the extent of internal waters, of the Territorial Sea, of the High Seas or of sovereign rights or jurisdiction for any other purpose.

On the basis of the foregoing, I have the honor to propose to Your Excellency that if the terms stipulated herein are acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, this Note and Your Excellency's reply shall constitute an Agreement between the two Governments.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest and most distinguished consideration.’

In reply, it is my honor to inform you that, the proposal set forth in your Note is acceptable to the Government of the United States of America. Accordingly, I agree that your Note and this reply shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments, which shall enter into force on the date of this reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.