be assured that the death of your son will have meaning. For I give you also my solemn pledge that our country will persist—and will prevail-in the cause for which your boy died.

Mr. Stanley R. Resor, Secretary of the Army, will now read the citation.

[Secretary Resor read the citation, the text of which

follows.]

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to

SPECIALIST FOUR DANIEL FERNANDEZ, UNITED STATES ARMY

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Specialist Four Daniel Fernandez distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on February 18, 1966 while serving as a member of an eighteen-man patrol engaged in a vicious battle with the Viet Cong in the vicinity of Cu Chi, Hau Nghĩa Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Specialist Fernandez demonstrated indomitable courage when the small patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and driven back by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire before it could evacuate an American soldier who was struck down in the initial attack. Specialist Fernandez

and three comrades immediately fought their way through devastating gun fire and exploding grenades to reach the fallen soldier. After the volunteers reached their fallen comrade and attempted to return to their defensive positions, a United States Army sergeant was struck in the knee by .50 caliber machine gun fire. Specialist Fernandez rallied the left flank of his patrol, went to assist in the recovery of the wounded sergeant and, while first aid was being administered to the wounded man, an enemy rifle grenade landed in the midst of their group. Realizing there was no time for the wounded sergeant or the other men to gain protection from the grenade blast, Specialist Fernandez threw himself on the grenade. as it exploded, saving the lives of the four men at the sacrifice of his own.

Specialist Fernandez' profound concern. for his fellow soldiers, his conspicuous gallantry, and his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of his country.

NOTE: The President spoke at 1:05 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White House. In his opening words he referred to Mr. and Mrs. Jose I. Fernandez of Los Lunas, N. Mex., Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor, Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, newly appointed Deputy Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, and Gen. Harold K. Johnson, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. Also attending the ceremony were Specialist Fernandez' two brothers, Peter and James, his sister Rita, of Los Lunas, and two of the four men whose lives he saved: Sgt. Ray E. Sue of Fort Hood, Texas, and James P. McKeown, Jr., of Willingboro, N.J.

Nuclear Planning Group.

[The briefing was already in progress when a stenographic reporter arrived. The text printed below begins with the reporter's arrival.]

THE PRESIDENT. We have demonstrated that aggression just doesn't pay. The purpose of this committee, and the enterprise in which they are engaged, is assurance that it never will pay. It was largely a welcome, an assurance of cooperation, and an exchange of views.

We wanted to share with them all the information and analysis that we had related to nuclear planning. We believe that joint planning is the best guarantee of effective deterrence. We believe that if we, together, can handle this awesome military power intelligently, prudently, and responsibly it will be a mighty force for peace in the world.

Secretary McNamara told me yesterday that he went into some detail with them on the problems of ABM deployment, what we are doing in that regard and our consultations with other nations about it.

We pointed up some of the things that NATO could now begin to push forward positively on-like bridges to the East, trying to lower ugly lines of walls and watchtowers that deface the map of Europe, and resolving some of the bitter controversies which have so divided neighbors.

Some of the things they are discussing are detailed ABM presentations, NATO's various capabilities, the views of various members on their country's attitudes on deployment of nuclear weapons, the East-West strategic balance, and generally things of that kind.

I reviewed with you the seven items that are here. I welcomed them. I encouraged them. I reviewed with them the success of NATO and its future. I expressed great pleas

ure that Secretary McNamara had brought them here for this very historic meeting.

As you know, Mr. Harlan Cleveland, our U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Council, was also here.

That was what happened in the meeting.

QUESTIONS

Q. Did you discuss, Mr. President, troop cuts by American forces?

THE PRESIDENT. No. I reviewed with you what we discussed. I took them one by one.

Q. Did you, Mr. President, give them assurance that the United States, in its current talks with Russia, would do everything it could to end this spiraling arms race?

THE PRESIDENT. No. I gave no assurances of any kind. I discussed the subjects I outlined with you. I told them we heartily concurred in this kind of thinking, this kind of planning, this kind of exchange of views, but it wasn't for me to say to them that I will give you this guarantee or this assurance. We just didn't get into that.

Q. Mr. President, did you discuss the question of nuclear landmines that Turkey was reported to have requested?

THE PRESIDENT. No. I welcomed them to the White House and discussed with them what I told you.

Each one of you can ask a question about what I discussed and I will tell you the same. I just reviewed my statement. It is there for you to look at.

Maybe if they had had more time and I had had more time we could, but that would be the function of the committee to take up the various subjects. ABM deployment is one of them, nuclear capability is one of them, building bridges is another one.

168 State Com

I HAVE tod.

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At 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, April 13th, 7,000 shopworkers-mechanics, poweruse employees and shop laborers-without hose services the trains cannot operate are heduled to begin a walkout against virally every major railroad in this country. ver 95 percent of the Nation's railroad ileage will be affected.

For almost a year the parties have engaged extensive collective bargaining to reach a tlement. These negotiations have proeded with a seriousness of purpose. The rties have bargained hard and with skill. The major issues on the bargaining table e traditional but vital. They include higher ge rates, larger wage differentials between led and unskilled workers, and the length. the contract.

Since October, 1966, the negotiations have en place under the Railway Labor Actmachinery established by the Congress handle disputes involving the Nation's `roads.

Through mediation and through the recmendations of an Emergency Board that tablished last January, some progress has n made. Recently, at my direction, Secry of Labor Wirtz and Under Secretary Labor Reynolds have worked, with Naal Mediation Board Chairman O'Neill,

The Emergency Board was established on Janu28, 1967, by Executive Order 11324 (3 Weekly 5. Pres. Docs., p. 129; 32 F.R. 1075; 3 CFR, Comp., p. 245). On the same day the following hers were appointed to the board: David GinsWashington attorney, Chairman; John W. nnell, president of the University of New pshire; and Frank J. Dugan, dean of the GradSchool of Law, Georgetown University.

to achieve a fair settlement. Out of this process many of the issues have been narrowed. Others have been eliminated.

Now, however, the procedures under the Railway Labor Act have run their full course-but the parties have still not been able to resolve their differences.

Under the law, the unions are free to strike on 12:01 a.m. April 13th unless: -A settlement is immediately reached. -The unions agree to a voluntary extension of the "no strike" period. The government's request for such an agreement has already been rejected. -Congress takes special action to keep the trains running while the parties can continue to work toward a settlement through collective bargaining without a nation-wide strike.

In this Message I call upon the Congress to take that special action.

THE PROPOSAL

I have carefully weighed the type of action Congress might usefully consider to meet the needs of the immediate situation. I have consulted with the wisest advisors available to a President.

The legislation I am proposing takes full account of two central considerations. The first is the significance of uninterrupted rail service to the national welfare and safety, and particularly to defense production. The second is that even in these extreme circumstances, collective bargaining must be given every opportunity to work-with the bargainers fully aware of the national significance of their responsibility.

With these considerations in mind, I recommend that Congress approve a joint reso

There are a good many studies that will come out of this meeting. They will come back in September or later in the year and make reports on it. This is a historic meeting. It is a very effective organization. It is one of the things that NATO can do and I am glad is doing. That is it.

There is one other thing I said to the countries represented, like the Germans, the English, and the Netherlands, about the Vice President's visit. I told them I had full reports from him. I expressed my appreciation and gratitude for the very thorough, fruit

ful, and, I think, profitable exchange between their governments and ours.

That was not on the agenda, but I thought of that while I was trying to figure out if we discussed anything else. We talked about his visit to England and Germany and so on and so forth.

Reporter: Thank you.

NOTE: The briefing was held at 12:30 p.m. in the President's office at the White House following a meeting of the defense ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

For the President's remarks of welcome to Vice President Humphrey following the Vice President's return from his tour of Europe, see Item 169.

I HAVE today called upon 10 distinguished Americans to conduct the most searching and exhaustive review ever undertaken of the structure and organization of the Post Office Department.

Our postal service handles more mail than the rest of the world's postal systems combined. It is a primary lifeline of communication, affecting the daily lives of all citizens. and the operations of every business.

Americans want and deserve the most efficient and modern postal system. Yet today we are in danger of falling behind in our effort to provide the very best service.

It is now time to determine whether the postal system as presently organized is capable of meeting the demands of our growing economy and our expanding population.

The Commission I have established today is eminently qualified to deal with this problem.

I have specifically asked the Commission to determine whether the high quality postal service which Americans have come to expect can better be performed by a Cabinet depart

ment, a Government corporation, or some other form of organization.

I have asked the Commission to consult with Government officials, private interests who are significant users of the postal service, Members of Congress, and postal employee organizations.

I have asked Chairman Kappel to submit the Commission's recommendations to me within a year.

I urge all Americans to cooperate with the Commission in its important work.

NOTE: The President's statement was made public as part of a White House announcement of the signing of Executive Order 11341 establishing the President's Commission on Postal Organization.

The announcement stated that the Commission would be chaired by Frederick R. Kappel, former chairman of the board of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. The other members were listed as follows: George Baker, dean, Harvard Business School; David Bell, vice president, Ford Foundation; Fred Borch, president, General Electric Corp.; David Ginsburg, Washington attorney; Ralph Lazarus, president, Federated Department Stores; George Meany, president, AFL-CIO; J. Irwin Miller, chairman of the board, Cummins Engine Co.; W. Beverly Murphy, president, Campbell Soup Co.; and Rudolph A. Peterson, president, Bank of America.