Mr. Coleman.

Will you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give is the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Ritchie.

I do.

Mr. Coleman.

Please state your name and address.

Mr. Ritchie.

James L. Ritchie, 5010 North 13th Street, Arlington, Va.

Mr. Coleman.

Our information is, sir, that some time around October 22, 1963, you had occasion to look at the Oswald file--

Mr. Ritchie.

I did.

Mr. Coleman.

After the Department received a telegram from the CIA indicating that Oswald had made an inquiry at the Russian Embassy in Mexico City, and that you took certain action as a result of looking at the file?

Mr. Ritchie.

I did.

Mr. Coleman.

And that is what we want to ask you about, sir. But before I do that, let me ask you a few preliminary questions.

Mr. Ritchie.

Certainly.

Mr. Coleman.

You have given your address, is that correct?

Mr. Ritchie.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

Where are you presently working?

Mr. Ritchie.

State Department Passport Office, Legal Division.

Mr. Coleman.

And what is your position?

Mr. Ritchie.

Attorney advisor.

Mr. Coleman.

And how long have you been in that capacity?

Mr. Ritchie.

Nine or ten years.

Mr. Coleman.

Are you a member of the Bar?

Mr. Ritchie.

Yes; District of Columbia.

Mr. Coleman.

When was the first time you ever heard the name Lee Harvey Oswald?

Mr. Ritchie.

October 22, 1963.

Mr. Coleman.

And would you indicate what occasioned your hearing the name?

Mr. Ritchie.

The Security Division transmitted a telegram from the CIA marked Secret, to the Passport Office. It was received in the Legal Division October 16, and it had been marked "Mr. Anderson, pull previous" which means get the file, and it was then handed to me October 21, approximately.

Mr. Coleman.

Who handed it to you?

Mr. Ritchie.

I don't know. It was placed on my desk. I imagine the file--

Mr. Coleman.

Prior to that time, you hadn't called for the file? You knew nothing about the case?

Mr. Ritchie.

No; I knew nothing about it. It had been placed on my desk for review. I read the telegram, noted that copies had been sent to SCA, that is the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs, CMA, Mexico, the Soviet desk, and the press section of RAR.

Mr. Seeley.

American Republics Political Division.

Mr. Coleman.

Then what did you do after you got the telegram?

Mr. Ritchie.

I reviewed the entire file.

Mr. Coleman.

That means you read every document in the file?

Mr. Ritchie.

Yes.

Mr. Coleman.

And do you have any idea how long it took you?

Mr. Ritchie.

Not more than a half hour.

Mr. Coleman.

And then what did you do after you read or reviewed the file?

Mr. Ritchie.

I don't want to say I read every item. I read the majority.

Mr. Coleman.

As a lawyer?

Mr. Ritchie.

Yes; I glanced over it.

Mr. Coleman.

You read what you felt was relevant?

Mr. Ritchie.

Relevant.

Mr. Coleman.

But you did thumb through every document?

Mr. Ritchie.

Yes.

Mr. Coleman.

What did you then do?

Mr. Ritchie.

I made a judgment there was no passport action to be taken, and marked the file to be filed.

Mr. Coleman.

Did you make a written memorandum?