Mrs. Oswald.

He said that he first visited the Soviet Embassy in the hope that having been there first this would make it easier for him at the Cuban Embassy. But there they refused to have anything to do with him.

Mr. Rankin.

And what did he say about the visit to the Cuban Embassy or consulate?

Mrs. Oswald.

It was quite without results.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he complain about the consular or any of the officials of the Cuban Embassy and the way they handled the matter?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, he called them bureaucrats. He said that the Cubans seemed to have a system similar to the Russians---too much red tape before you get through there.

Mr. Rankin.

Is there anything else that he told you about the Mexico City trip that you haven't related?

Mrs. Oswald.

No, that is all that I can remember about it.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you recall how long he was gone on his trip to Mexico City?

Mrs. Oswald.

All of this took approximately 2 weeks, from the time that I left New Orleans, until the time that he returned.

Mr. Rankin.

And from the time he left the United States to go to Mexico City to his return, was that about 7 days?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes. He said he was there for about a week.

Mr. Rankin.

When you were asked before about the trip to Mexico, you did not say that you knew anything about it. Do you want to explain to the Commission how that happened?

Mrs. Oswald.

Most of these questions were put to me by the FBI. I do not like them too much. I didn't want to be too sincere with them. Though I was quite sincere and answered most of their questions. They questioned me a great deal, and I was very tired of them, and I thought that, well, whether I knew about it or didn't know about it didn't change matters at all, it didn't help anything, because the fact that Lee had been there was already known, and whether or not I knew about it didn't make any difference.

Mr. Rankin.

Was that the only reason that you did not tell about what you knew of the Mexico. City trip before?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, because the first time that they asked me I said no, I didn't know anything about it. And in all succeeding discussions I couldn't very well have said I did. There is nothing special in that. It wasn't because this was connected with some sort of secret.

Mr. Rankin.

Did your husband stay with you at the Paines after that first night when he returned from Mexico?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, he stayed overnight there. And in the morning we took him to Dallas.

Mr. Rankin.

And by "we" who do you mean?

Mrs. Oswald.

Ruth Paine, I and her children.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you know what he did in Dallas, then?

Mrs. Oswald.

He intended to rent an apartment in the area of Oak Cliff, and to look for work.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you know whether he did that?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, I know that he always tried to get some work. He was not lazy.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he rent the apartment?

Mrs. Oswald.

On the same day he rented a room, not an apartment, and he telephoned me and told me about it.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you discuss the plans for this room before you took him to Dallas?

Mrs. Oswald.

No. I asked him where he would live, and he said it would be best if he rented a room, it would not be as expensive as an apartment.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he say anything about whether you would be living with him, or he would be living there alone?

Mrs. Oswald.

No, I did not really want to be with Lee at that time, because I was expecting, and it would have been better to be with a woman who spoke English and Russian.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you know where your husband looked for work in Dallas at that time?