WELCOME (Translation) 



Senator Donati 



Sotto Segretano delta Difesa 



Rome, Italy 



As he has found it impossible to participate at this opening ceremony, the 

 Honorable Luigi Gui, Minister of the Defense, has given me the responsibility of 

 offering to you his welcome and his appreciation of your work as scholars and 

 research workers. 



The continual development of sea transport, entailing ever-increasing de- 

 mands on performance, emphasizes the usefulness and stresses the importance 

 of these meetings at which the results of continuous and intense research work 

 in a branch of science which is of basic importance for the progress of naval 

 constructions can be presented and discussed. 



The abundantly rich technical program of this Seventh Symposium includes, 

 among other topics, a look toward tomorrow and at future prospects for propul- 

 sion and confirms the vitality of this important sector of naval science. 



The Italian Government, which is particularly sensitive to all problems re- 

 garding naval construction and therefore supports any activity which contributes 

 to scientific and technological progress, is highly pleased not only that Rome is 

 the hostess to this symposium and to such a large number of scholars from all 

 parts of the world, but also that the symposium's organization has been shared 

 in together by the United States Office of Naval Research, the Marina Militare 

 Italiana, which has along andmeritable tradition in the field of scientific activity, 

 the Istituto Nazionale per Studi ed Esperienze di Architettura Navale, and the 

 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. 



With best wishes that your work may be profitable and rich with interest, and 

 the hope that the present meeting may help to strengthen or to create personal 

 ties and reciprocal acquaintanceships, I have the pleasure and the honor of de- 

 claring open the Seventh Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics. 



XIV 



