OPA

Thousands of Indian landowners in many different parts of the country will be affected by a recent Internal Revenue Service ruling which exempts from Federal income taxes the direct income derived from Indian trust lands allotted under the General Allotment Act of 1887, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons said today.

Altogether, Commissioner Emmons explained, there are more than 100,000 tracts Of individually owned Indian land totaling about 13,000,000 acres held in trust by the United States. Since the preponderant majority of these so-called “allotments'' were made under the 1887 statute, a large number of individual Indian landowners will be eligible for exemption. Mr. Emmons added, however, that each such land-owner would be well-advised to seek legal advice before claiming an exemption on income not clearly coming under the Internal Revenue Service ruling.

Types of income covered by the ruling include rentals (including crop rentals), Royalties, proceeds of sales of the natural resources of such land, and income from the sale of crops grown upon the land and from the use of the land for grazing purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service ruling was made following a conference between Commissioner Emmons and IRS officials in Washington, and is based upon the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Squire vs. Horton Capoeman et ux. (351 U.S. 1, Ct. D. 1796, I.R.B. 1956-21, 15).

A special three-day Polar Plan Conference on Arctic problems ended today with direction from Secretary of the Interior Walter J. Hickel that future plans for the area should be viewed from an international standpoint.

"Knowledge of the world's polar regions will change not only the countries bordering on the Arctic -- it will change economic, social and cultural conditions throughout the world," Secretary Hickel said.

"I urge you to think of the Arctic as a single entity, so that all nations can contribute to its conservation and the wise use of its resources," he said.

"The North Country is beginning to undergo the most rapid and profound changes ever seen in any wilderness region in world history," Secretary Hickel said in addressing delegates to the conference. "It is unlike any other region in the world in many other ways.

"All of us -- throughout the world -- who work with the Arctic must find new ways to meet this unprecedented challenge. We need new ideas, new techniques and attitudes, perhaps even new institutions, and we need them in every nation involved in the Arctic."

The Secretary noted with satisfaction that the Canadian and Norwegian Governments had sent high officials to the Polar Plan Conference, He urged that other nations join in future efforts to coordinate Arctic planning and development.

The Conference, held at Skyland Lodge in Shenandoah National Park, brought together 100 representatives of industry, science, conservation and several levels of government to exchange ideas about the North's spectacular boom and its impact.

Secretary Hickel urged that Alaska's native Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts be given every opportunity to take part in decisions involving the Arctic and the work now being undertaken by industry and government in that State.

Unlike most other workers, he noted, Alaska Natives are accustomed to the land and its climate. Their rate of turnover on the job can be expected to remain low, he said, and their keen personal interest in preserving their environment makes them most likely to respect it and work in harmony with it as much as possible.

Human values must be given paramount attention, he emphasized, and all developmental problems must be considered in terms of their effects on people.

Six real estate employees from four field offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been authorized to attend special courses in appraisal techniques at the University of Southern California starting August 6, Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons announced today.

The courses are given in two sessions, from August 6 through August 18, and from August 20 through September 1.

Walter B. Woodcock of the area office at Billings, Mont., and W.W. Murray of the Phoenix, Ariz., office will attend both sessions. L.O. Ogden and R.H. Solter of Portland, Oreg., and R, L. Hopkins of Phoenix will be enrolled for the first session only. Walter Wood of Sacramento, Calif., will attend only the second session.

In making the announcement Commissioner Emmons emphasized the Bureau's responsibilities for proper appraisal of Indian lands and the need for training its employees in the most up-to-date appraisal techniques.

A major reorganization of the central office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D. C., was announced today by Commissioner Glenn L. Emmons.

One part of the move involves the reassignment of Carl W, Beck, Assistant to the Commissioner, who has had general supervision over the Bureau's voluntary relocation program and the work of stimulating industrial development around the reservations since last summer. Because of the rapidly growing importance of both of these programs, Commissioner Emmons explained, Mr. Beck will now devote full time to the industrial development activity.

The other phase of the reorganization involves the creation of a new Division of Tribal Programs and Relocation Services under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Thomas M. Reid.

In the move the Bureau's Branch of Relocation is being renamed the Branch of Relocation Services and its headquarters staff is being transferred from Denver, Colo., to Washington, D. C. The new division will also include a Branch of Tribal Programs which will take over the functions connected with tribal government and related matters and will need up the work of developing, cooperatively with the tribal groups, programs aimed at improving the Indians' economic and social status.

Charles F. Miller will continue in direct charge of the relocation work. Homer B. Jenkins, who has been acting chief of the Bureau’s program coordinating staff, will be chief of the Branch of Tribal Programs.

The newly created division is the fourth major organizational unit in the Bureau's Washington office. The other three are the Division of Resources under Assistant Commissioner E. J. Utz, the Division of Community Services under Assistant Commissioner Selene Gifford, and the Division of Administration under Acting Assistant Commissioner F.H. Massey.

President Chino, Vice Presidents, and friends. I am especially happy to be here at the 25th Anniversary Convention of the National Congress of American Indians.

In the past I have joined you around the table as one of the charter members of the National Congress of American Indians. Our efforts then were to develop a forceful voice for the American Indians and to work to improve the legal, economic, and social conditions of our people. Today, I come as your Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The intensive efforts which you need to make and which I need to pursue are more pressing now than at any time in our history.

I have accepted the challenge of being the Commissioner of Indian Affairs fully realizing the tremendous task which I have undertaken. As Commissioner I want to get Indians fully involved in the decisions affecting their lives; then to get the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be totally responsive to Indian needs; and to develop a climate of understanding throughout the United States which will permit the full development of Indian people and their communities without the threat of termination. All of these tasks are of equal importance and must be pursued with diligence and at once.

I want to underscore, at this point, that I accepted the appointment of Commissioner, with the commitment and understanding that this administration was not going to become a termination administration and that I would have the fullest high-level cooperation in my efforts to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I have been given these assurances.

Secretary Hickel strongly emphasized this in his speech last night, and Assistant Secretary Loesch has stated publicly on several occasions that this is not a termination administration.

Indians have had a unique relationship with the Federal Government since its inception. The core of this relationship has been the trust status of Indian lands. Because of the existence of the "Trust Land Status", Indian tribes have continued to exist and provided some degree of continuity for their culture and some identity for their members.

I, like you, hold this trust sacred, not just because I am an Indian who has invested much time and effort to protect it, but also because I believe sound government policy dictates this view as derived from the Federal treaties, public laws, and court opinions.

We propose to undertake an extensive study of the Federal trust relationship to make it a more flexible instrument for Indian development while fully protecting Indian resources. I will invite Indian people, as well as other experts in Indian law; corporation law; and property law, to assist us in defining the best way to obtain this flexibility. This means a new role for the agency will become necessary to serve you.

Beginning with the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, services available to all other citizens, in some measure, began to apply to Indians. Particularly since 1934, the landmark legislation enacted by the Congress, which resulted in the many new social and economic development programs to assist the disadvantaged, have been of benefit to Indian citizens. They have derived benefit from these programs, not so much on the basis of their being Indians, but more on the basis of their being citizens in need, who by most standards qualify for such programs.

In the 1970 fiscal year, it is estimated that the combined expenditures of all Federal agencies assisting Indian people will be approximately $500 million dollars. At least one-half of these monies will come from agencies outside the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The dramatic increase in kinds and levels of services from the Federal Government has had an extensive impact upon the lives of Indian people as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and has contributed to more meaningful and comfortable lives for thousands of Indians.

Yet as far as I can determine to date, the organizational structure and personnel deficiencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs have prevented it from helping Indians organize to get optimum Indian utilization of this new array of programs and services.

The Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will seek to serve as a spearhead for developing other agency programs for Indians. It is our intent to stimulate, facilitate, and support the direct involvement and planning between the Indian people and other agencies and departments.

What I have in mind, is the development of a strong intergovernmental relations unit in the Washington office of BIA. This office will take the initiative and work with other agencies and departments, to insure that old as well as new programs, are designed to meet Indian needs. This unit also will work with Regional and State offices, and local tribal groups to assure that Indians are
getting their fair share of these programs.

This means the Bureau staff must work aggressively at the local level with tribal groups, State agencies, and Federal and regional counterparts to develop and assist in implementing a viable plan for the development of Indian communities and people. If Bureau funds are minimal and the community needs are maximum, our staff will be expected to search out additional program monies from other public or private sources.

What I am emphasizing is the fact that a primary role for the Bureau staff will be to improve the conditions of American Indian people by utilizing resources from the public as well as private sectors.

Under our administration, the thrust of the Bureau will be to advocate and create improved conditions of Indian life and to activate Indian involvement in all matters affecting their lives.

In order to do this, we must have a Bureau of Indian Affairs structure, from headquarters to the agency level, which will support and direct the development of this role.

I have taken the initial step by first attempting to pull my own team together. At this point, I have sent forward a number of names of persons who would join me in my efforts to restructure the Bureau. Among the names are a number of persons whom you know and respect as Indians and who have a long history of fighting for our Indian rights. I would welcome any suggestion you have about appointments at all levels within the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

I have had an opportunity to talk extensively with many of you here at this convention, and you have given me many good ideas about how to undertake a plan of restructuring. I shall certainly follow your good advice and counsel.

I can pledge to you, that we will do everything in our power to make the Bureau a more flexible organization which will be responsive to Indian needs.

In restructuring the Bureau of Indian Affairs, I should not like to commit myself to any particular method of operation we will be using an internal working group on the immediate matter of redirecting Bureau functions and staff roles. On the broader issues of policy affecting Indian people, I shall call together Indian persons and Indian groups as well as other persons to look at specific issues which need new direction and new definition. Areas like education from pre-school throughout adulthood; tribal governments; the basic rights of Indian people and legal services, the development of economically viable Indian communities; the identification of methods to make the broad range of community services available to Indian people; ways to enhance the development and creation of community institutions, and Indian control of such institutions; improved use of heirship lands, and a true look at Indian heritage, accomplishments, and contributions.

One of my special interests is Indian youth. They are the largest and fastest growing segment of our Indian population, and our greatest asset for the future of Indian people. Over the years, we have made great strides in education and training but we have also ignored many of the pressing problems that come about as our communities change. For example, many of our young people are growing up without homes or communities. We need to look at this and find ways for them to feel more secure in their development and environment. We will be looking towards new and different alternatives of education not only for the very young, but also on the secondary post-graduate, and graduate levels. To help in these plans, I am forming a special youth advisory committee responsible to my office. As we form our other committees, advisory groups, and task forces, young people will be asked to serve as an important part of these.

We will be asking a number of young Indian people to work with us in bringing insights and understanding to their problems.

No one person can hope to achieve the many things I have talked to you about. It will require negotiations and building of relationships and commitments to Indian people and their future and by we the Indian people for our future. In a sense, an Indian Commissioner is a tightrope walker, he must look clearly at the goal of improving the conditions of Indian people, the trust relationship and protecting and developing the natural resources and water rights of our people. To do all this, the Indian Commissioner must operate as a part of the governmental process bouncing on the tightrope, and yet, keeping his feet firm, his eye sharp, and maintaining the cooperation and support of this entire process and the Indian people.

You are my biggest asset in this job. I intend to maintain and continue open dialogue with Indian interest organizations, like NCAI, as well as Indian tribes and individual Indian people, so that on the difficult issues, I will have Indian understanding and support.

We invite you to join us as full partners in discussing, planning, and implementing programs and services to improve all the facets of Indian life.

President Nixon has pledged that "progress through participation on the part of the Indians is now the basis of this administration's efforts to make progress in every area of Indian affairs." Secretary Hickel also has underscored this pledge and I am determined that my performance as your Commissioner will warrant your confidence, patience, and support in achieving a program which will be beneficial to all of us.

"Graphic Arts of the Alaskan Eskimo," a new profusely illustrated 88-page publication, is now being offered for sale by the Government, the Department of the Interior announced today.

Illustrated with nearly 100 reproductions of graphic works of art by Alaskan Eskimos, the publication depicts such unusual items as engravings on ivory and watercolor drawings on skin and paper, as well as woodcuts, etchings, lithographs,and engravings.

An accompanying interpretive text is by anthropologist Dorothy Jean Ray.

The new publication has been compiled by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, an advisory agency headed by five Commissioners appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. It contains a foreword by Vincent Price, the actor and art expert who currently serves as chairman of the Indian Arts
and Crafts Board.

We are particularly enthusiastic about the work in media by young Alaskan Eskimo artists of today who are extending this important graphic tradition of the North into the competitive and expansive concepts of our contemporary world," Chairman Price said.

The publication is the second in a series titled "Native American Arts" published by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Priced at $1 per copy, it is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402. Orders should specify the catalog number, I1.84/4:2.

Secretary of the Interior Walter J. Hickel announced today that the first meeting of the Pyramid Lake Task Force will be held October 16 at Reno. The Task Force includes representatives of the Department of the Interior and the States of California and Nevada.

The Task Force will study water allocations in the Truckee-Carson Basin and develop a plan intended to satisfy various water demands in the area.

Governor Ronald Reagan of California has named as his representatives Hubert Bruns, Chairman, Alpine County Board of Supervisors and Chairman of the California-Nevada Interstate Compact Commission; and Robert G. Eiland, Assistant Director, California State Department of Water Resources.

Governor Paul Laxalt of Nevada. has appointed Roland Westergard, State of Nevada. Engineer; James Vidovich, Chairman of the Pyramid Lake Tribal Council; Robert Leighton, Director, Water and Lands, Sierra Pacific Power Company; Jim Wood, Manager, Truckee-Carson Irrigation District; Fred Settelmyer, Upper Carson River Water Users; Frank Groves, Fish and Game Commission; and Eileen Brookman, past member of the Nevada Indian Affairs Commission.

Secretary Hickel has assigned Charles Renda, Regional Solicitor of the Department, Sacramento, Calif; Frank E. Sylvester, Regional Director of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, San Francisco; George Hedden, Assistant Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Robert J. Pafford, Jr., Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento.

Studies and recommendations of the Task Force will be reviewed by a Washington Committee headed by Harrison Loesch, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Public Land Management. Other members are G. G, Stamm, Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Irrigation, Bureau of Reclamation; and Raymond C. Coulter, Deputy Solicitor, Department of the Interior. Assistant Secretary Loesch will attend the Reno meeting.

Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton today disapproved a proposed 25-year oil and gas development contract negotiated between the Navajo Indian Tribe and the Delhi-Taylor Oil Corporation of Dallas, Texas.

One of his objections was based upon the questionable legality of the proposal. The contract would have embraced 5,300,000 acres, about one-third of the Navajo Reservation which includes land in three States.

The Secretary said the proposed contract is in effect a lease agreement and that the Department's Solicitor has questioned the authority for such an arrangement under existing law. The law precludes the leasing of any Indian reservation lands for oil and gas development, without advertising for competitive bids.

Another consideration in arriving at his decision, Secretary Seaton said, was the fact that 12 other oil companies in addition to Delhi-Taylor have been conducting geophysical work on the Navajo Reservation during the last year, and that several have indicated their desire to enter into leases on a competitive basis. Negotiations on the rejected proposal were reported to have been conducted only with the Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp.

Secretary Seaton said he was informed that the benefits received by the Navajos under competitive leasing should outweigh the uncertain benefits which they might receive under an agreement of the type proposed. He explained the Navajo Tribe has received in the last five years, more than $15 million in bonus and rental payments under- present competitive leasing procedures, and that they are receiving annually more than $1 million from rentals alone,

Transfer of more than 10,000 acres of land and about 30 buildings at the Southwestern Sheep Breeding Laboratory, Fort Wingate, N. Mex., from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton.

The realty transaction is the final step in a transfer of administrative responsibilities which took place nearly three years ago. On August 1, 1953, actual operation of the Sheep Breeding laboratory, originally established in1935 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was taken over by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry. However, since the land and buildings could not be transferred pending a review and authorization by the General Services Administration, they were made available to the Bureau of Animal Industry at that time merely through a revocable permit.

Authorization for actual transfer of the land and buildings to the Department of Agriculture was recently given oy the Denver, Colorado, regional office of the General Services Administration.

Our Bible history tells us that Noah and his ark were on the stormy seas for 40 days and 40 nights before the waters receded.

I can tell you -- I think I know what life on that ark must have been. This is my 40th day as skipper of another ark, the Bureau of Indian Affairs. We did not have the time to scrape the barnacles off her hull before we were hit by Hurricane Teddy, battered a bit by Hurricane Wendell, and sprayed again with a lot of salt by the militants, at the NCAI Conference in Albuquerque.

It's been a tough voyage from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City -- but one thing is certain: We're ready to put strong wind into our sails so we can keep ahead of future storms. Such thoughts led me to decide to speak out here to you in the heart of a great Indian area where the issues are understood and vitally alive. My message is directed to Indian people everywhere.

There's one big fear we can put aside from now on. At the NCAI meeting, Vice President Agnew, speaking as Chairman of the National Council on Indian Opportunity, said plainly:

The President's statement, delivered to the last NCAI convention in Omaha, still stands. This Administration opposes termination. This Administration favors the continuation of the trust relationship and the protection of Indian lands and Indian resources." This position was reiterated by Secretary Hickel at that Convention. This Administration will present a united front in opposing termination threats which have so severely damaged the Federal/Indian relationship these past 19 years.

How do we make the trust relationship more responsive and more flexible, so that it can meet the human needs of the Indian people? So that it is more effective in developing the maximum productivity from the rich natural resources to be found on Indian lands? So that we can eliminate the scars of poverty from Indian communities and Indian faces?

Indian involvement in decision-making is the only means by which this can be done and assured. I mean legitimate, formal, recognized, grass-roots Indian participation. I mean the kind of participation in which all tribal members turn out to vote on issues of concern at the local/regional, and national levels. I mean the kind of participation in which Indians volunteer and have opportunity to render their services on committees in their communities -- school boards, recreation and economic planning committees, social service committees, and such other activities as relate to your everyday lives.

It's going to require close liaison, working together to make sure that the proper groundwork is laid this kind of Indian participation. It is the kind of local action which Vice President Agnew asked for in his NCAI address.

We in Washington have spent the past 40 days examining the present structure of BIA to see how it can be adjusted to make more room for Indian input. We want to be sure that any conflicting lines of authority are eliminated. We want to be sure that funds are not frittered away through duplications of expenditures and for unnecessary purposes. And above all, we want to make sure that Indian betterment, rather than political expedient, becomes the basis for changes we will be making.

It would be no great problem, I assure you, to create a new organizational structure for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is a process that pockmarks Bureau history. I agree that changes are needed in the organizational structure of the Bureau. But, I also believe that the methodology used in reorganization in the past is as much of a problem as the problems that were being corrected.

Meaningful, legitimate, Indian directed and controlled involvement in these processes is not there -- it can't be there -- and it won't be there effective mechanisms for it to work are provided. As it is, Indians have been "used" to legitimatize the processes of bureaucracy.

I do not intend to fall into this trap. I do not believe that Indian people want to travel down the same old road again. I do not believe they will accept it. And I intend to provide the leadership required to ensure that changes are made in the processes associated with Indian administration and its policies that will ensure productive Indian participation under the test of time.

We Indians have been demanding the privilege of full involvement, and an opportunity to plan programs for our own destiny and that of our children for many years now.

The time has come for that to take place. I want to make it clear that the Bureau of Indian Affairs under my direction has no intention of laying out the decisions for you. I want non-Indians to stop telling us what is wrong, what to do, and how it should be done. We are as capable of deciding issues that affect us as are they -- but we the Indian people must take the initiative.

I've recently been accused of not exerting strong leadership -- of lacking a certain aggressiveness. I ask those who raise these questions -- why? Why should they want me, a Federal official, to exert strong and forceful leadership in your affairs?

I sense that those making these pronouncements do not seek any fundamental change in Indian administration -- that they are "hung up," as solidly as many of the "bureaucrats" they freely criticize, on the system as it has been administered during the past 140 years or so. Can this be true? Only you as members of the American Indian community have the answer.

For my part, I intend to provide strong leadership in my Bureau's activities. That leadership will be directed toward making the Bureau totally responsive and flexible to the needs and direction of Indian people, and as supportive of Indian effort and expression as is possible. I will help you put this thing together, not dictate its terms.

Where are we headed in the immediate future? We are not standing idle. Every stone is being turned to expose that method that can best serve to install legitimate, formalized recognized, Indian involvement in all activities of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, at all levels on a continuing basis. This requirement carries top priority and no other action will be taken until this is accomplished, whether we speak of reorganization, major policy questions and issues, or school operations. Indian participation and direction in all activities will be standard operating procedure in the Bureau from this day forth.

We may be able to bring this about through administrative action. But, to guarantee that its role will have the necessary legitimate recognition and authority, it may be necessary to secure legislation. We are prepared to seek legislation if that is what is required to put this over.

Indian people will be consulted on this, the most important move of all, in the near future. After that decision is made, the ball will be in your hands. All resources available under my administration will be organized and marshalled toward assistance to you and your people. But you must provide the direction: you must step out in leadership; and you must be ready and willing to accept the responsibility that comes with this leadership.

This is the age of youth -- I believe in it. It should be. They represent the majority of the Indian population, and the whole American population for that matter. Their destinies are the ones at stake when we make decisions. I have already begun to make changes in BIA to give Indian youth a chance for constructive participation. I expect Indian leadership to do this also. The recent NCAI action establishing a youth council is a fine example of this. It is amazing to me how much young, educated talent can be found by just a little searching. I've already uncovered some of it, and the search is on for more and more.

The work before us will not be accomplished in the next 40 days. Depending on our perseverance, and the presentation of a united front for action in these efforts, Indian people can be in command of their destinies in the next 40 months.

We have to live with certain realities. One of them is the fact that a new way of life is being imposed upon all the people of this country, not just Indians -- a way of life that has been molded by science and technology; a way of life that we cannot turn back, and which we can control only it we work at it.

It is obvious that BIA cannot and should not do all the developing. For one thing, it does not have the authority for, nor any business in, regulating all aspects of Indian life. For another -- Indians don't need any more authorities imposed upon them. What Indians need is more authority to make their own decisions.

At the NCAI conference in Albuquerque, Senator Kennedy proposed a White House Conference on Indian Affairs, which was then endorsed by an NCAI resolution. I shall support the action of the NCAI and provide whatever support and assistance I can from the resources at my command.

A White House-sponsored conference is not a new idea. It was first proposed in 1956, as a follow-up to the first national Indian housing conference and the first national Indian youth conference. It would have stature if sponsored by the White House. But -- why couldn't it be a White House sponsored conference which is planned, organized, and run by Indians, and in which the participants are Indians, not just other people who have hopped on the Indian bandwagon? A conference about Indians suggests more paternalism in a new guise. A conference for Indians, by Indians, would keynote the new politics -- Indian Affairs directed by Indians.

I didn't accept the job as Commissioner because I wanted to be a big chief. Nor did I take it on as a ceremonial climax to my career. I accepted the job because I believe, there is a desperate need for something to be done, and because I want to be able to see to it that it is done the way Indians want it done. Let no one mistake the seriousness of my commitment.

My way is not the flamboyant way. I do not wave my arms or pound fists on podiums. I do not speak in glittering phrases. I do not employ catch phrases to catch the headlines. I do not shout. I do not wish to engage in or participate in power-struggles because I do not wish to be party to further fractionation of the Indian community and its interests. If Indians are divided, then Indian aspirations will be defeated.

There are issues on which all of us agree -- just as there are times when we disagree. But a united front must be maintained -- no one has put this any better than did Wendell Chino in his keynote address at the NCAI convention. If we can agree on major issues -- then we will experience a new stature on the American scene. We will discover the politicians following Indian directions, not trying to lead or use Indians in the manner of the past.

I thank you sincerely for your time and attention. I hope to have many, many more opportunities to discuss these matters with each of you in the future. Your views are always welcome and I invite your questions and your suggestions.

Thank you.