You will be welcome all over the country, and I hope that your visit here increases the ties of interest and friendship between our two peoples.

You have had an extraordinary career in war and in peace, and while there are differences in viewpoint which separate our governments, nevertheless, this administration and my two predecessors, President Eisenhower and President Truman, all believed strongly in the independence of your country and all appreciated the extraordinary efforts you are making to maintain that independence, situated as you are in an area of great importance.

This is a difficult and dangerous world in which we live.

The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Commerce, jointly and individually, shall institute and maintain appropriate measures for the effective coordination of each of the following: (1) the rural-development program of the Department of Agriculture and the functions of the Department of Commerce under the Area Redevelopment Act.

Executive Order No. 10847 of October 12, 1959, is hereby revoked.

Each member of the Committee may designate an officer of his agency to act for him as a member of the Committee with respect to any matter considered by the Committee.

The Committee shall provide leadership and uniform policy guidance to the several Federal departments and agencies responsible for rural-development program functions and related activities.

Nothing in this order shall be deemed to authorize any executive department or any other executive agency established by law to carry out any program which is inconsistent with law.

In conducting its activities the Committee shall place particular emphasis on effective public and private cooperation and leadership for rural development at the State and local levels.

So, we are proud to have you here, Prime Minister, as a very active participant in that fight of living a thousand years.

I think it is a source of some satisfaction that Ireland, which, after all, is a small country, should be playing such a significant role on the world stage.