Mr. Rankin.

And I think it would be better for our record if I briefly state the date that the envelopes bear in each case, so it can be compared with the number.

The Chairman.

Very well.

Mr. Rankin.

Exhibit 180 bears the date of July 18, 1961, on the envelope.

Mr. Dulles.

Mr. Rankin--is that the American or the Russian postmark?

Mr. Rankin.

That is the American postmark.

Mr. Dulles.

Time of receipt in this country?

Mr. Rankin.

That's right.
Now, Mrs. Oswald, I understand from you there was one letter before the letter bearing the date July 18, 1961, on the American postmark on the envelope, and you do not have that here?

Mrs. Oswald.

I may have it. I have many more papers and documents. I have a suitcase almost full that I have not yet opened. The suitcase was lost. We did not receive it until about 9 o'clock last night.

Mr. Rankin.

You have not produced it today, though.

Mrs. Oswald.

No. But, there is one more letter. It is the very first letter I received from Lee.

Mr. Rankin.

I call the attention of the Commission to the statement in Exhibit 180, "She was living at her aunt's place when I met her. They are real nice people. Her uncle is a major in the Soviet Amry."
Exhibit 181, dated August 3, 1961, was the envelope postmarked United States, August 10, 1961. I also offer that.
Exhibit 182, dated October 2, 1961, with the American postmark October 10, 1961. I also offer that.
In each ease, Mr. Chairman, I ask leave to substitute copies in accordance with our understanding.

The Chairman.

Yes. We will make a blanket ruling on all of them when you finish.

Mr. Rankin.

Yes, sir.
Exhibit 183, dated October 22, 1959, with the American postmark on the envelope October 30, 1961. I offer it.

Mr. Dulles.

Did you say 1959 and then 1961?

Mr. Rankin.

'61.

Mr. Dulles.

It is all '61?

Mr. Rankin.

You are correct--October 22, 1959, is the date on the letter.

Mrs. Oswald.

That is incorrect.

Mr. Rankin.

And on the envelope it is October 30, 1961, Vernon, Tex. Mrs. Oswald, can you explain that?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes. Evidently Lee put the date incorrect--because I had no contact with Lee from the time 1 had one contact with Lee from the time that he defected to Russia. And the only contact was when he was at the Metropole Hotel in Moscow. Then the next contact was when the State Department wrote me his address, which was July, or June 1961. So where Lee put the 1959, I would say it was just an error, because the postmark proves the date.
As I have been saying FBI instead of Secret Service--I mean it is just----

Mr. Rankin.

A slip of some kind?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes.

Mr. Dulles.

Is the 1959 letter available, the Metropole Hotel letter?

Mrs. Oswald.

When we go into the defection, I have letters from 1959 that I myself have sent to Lee and have been returned, and, gentlemen, they are unopened, and I will give you the privilege of opening my thoughts to my son. They were returned unopened, because he was not located.

Mr. Rankin.

I might answer your question, Mr. Dulles. We have a copy of the Metropole letter of 1959.

Mr. Doyle.

Mr. Rankin, could I check--your Exhibit 182, the one you called just before this--I gathered that you gave a date of the letter and also a date of the postmark. Am I correct-October 2, 1961, is the date of the letter, and October 10, 1961, is the postmark.

Mr. Rankin.

That's correct.

Mr. Doyle.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Rankin.

Now, with regard to Exhibit 183, which bears the date October 22,