Mr. Fain.

the office there might have gotten a copy of it, might have gotten the original, and this might have been a copy. I just don't recall.

Mr. Stern.

Were you instructed to make this investigation or did you initiate it yourself on the strength of this information from the naval district in New Orleans?

Mr. Fain.

There again. I believe that the supervisor in Dallas asked that this case be or did reopen it and asked for a background investigation. It looks like this is a background type of investigation on the individual Lee Harvey Oswald.

Mr. Stern.

When you say "reopen," Mr. Fain, does that mean there was a case opened previously on Lee Oswald?

Mr. Fain.

No; I used the wrong term. I confused it with this report. This was a different type of investigation, this "Funds Transmitted to Residents, of Russia."

Mr. Stern.

That was not an investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald as such?

Mr. Fain.

That is right.

Mr. Stern.

This was actually the first report concerning the individual?

Mr. Fain.

That is correct.

Mr. Stern.

So that did this represent the opening of a case on Lee Harvey Oswald, Mr. Fain?

Mr. Fain.

Yes; it did.

Mr. Stern.

And as far as you know, there was no earlier investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald as such; is that correct?

Mr. Fain.

I believe that is correct.

Mr. Stern.

I am just asking you of your own knowledge.

Mr. Fain.

That is right.

Mr. Stern.

You say this was a background investigation. What do you mean by that, Mr. Fain?

Mr. Fain.

Well, we always ascertain his correct name and aliases, and residences, where he previously lived, his employment, his citizenship status, his nationality background, his education, his military record, whether or not he had any relatives, close relatives, in the Armed Forces; and we get a physical description of him, identification record, and where possible we always get a photograph; and his mother furnished a copy of the photograph to us on April 28, 1960.

Mr. Stern.

On the first page of the report, the initial "C" appears after the synopsis. What does that mean, Mr. Fain?

Mr. Fain.

That means closed.

Mr. Stern.

What does that indicate to you in terms of the investigation?

Mr. Fain.

Well, it indicated that we obtained the information concerning this person, to identify him, as to who he was, something about him, about his background; it appearing there was no further need for investigation at that time, we closed the case.

Mr. Stern.

Your report indicates at page 8 that the files of the office of naval intelligence in Louisiana were checked. Was that done at your request, if you recall? Did you check those files?

Mr. Fain.

I did not. That would have been checked in the New Orleans division.

Mr. Stern.

Would this have been done at your request or on the instructions of someone else?

Mr. Fain.

I am of the opinion that that information probably came along with the other information or subsequent to the other information on which this case was predicated. I don't recall asking them to make any check like that.

Mr. Stern.

The first paragraph on page 1 reads a little differently. It says, "Information received by communication from the Naval District," and on page 8 you refer to a check of the files of Naval Intelligence.

Mr. Fain.

It sounds like a check was made, and they had made some information available to us, and I incorporated it in this report.

Mr. Stern.

"They" is--who do you mean by "they"?

Mr. Fain.

The New Orleans Division of the FBI.

Mr. Stern.

Of the FBI?

Mr. Fain.

Yes, sir.