The Chairman.

in recent years that might have been introduced in the Congress to make an attack upon the President a Federal offense?

Mr. Belmont.

I do know that there is legislation presently pending.

The Chairman.

Since the assassination?

Mr. Belmont.

Since the assassination.

The Chairman.

Yes. But had it been considered in recent years? I know it had at the time of other assassinations, but so far as you know were there any recent legislation to that effect?

Mr. Belmont.

Mr. Chairman, I must plead ignorance. I haven't done research on it, and I just don't know.

The Chairman.

Yes. Well, we can find that out very easily.

Representative Ford.

Mr. Chairman, just the other day in the House of Representatives a bill was approved giving Federal officials the right to take certain action when a chief of state from a foreign country was within the United States; a broadening of their authority when they had a suspicion or they had some reason to believe that an attack was being made on a foreign dignitary.
At the time it went through the House I thought of the same question you just raised, and I wondered whether there were any specific legislative matters pending before any committee on this particular point.

Mr. Belmont.

I am sure there is a pending bill because my recollection is that it was called to our attention--I cannot pinpoint it for you--but I think there is pending legislation now in this matter.

Mr. Mccloy.

I noticed in some Law Review article recently reference to the fact that previous bills had been introduced but had gone into the wastebasket.

The Chairman.

That is true.

Mr. Mccloy.

In respect of other incidents.

The Chairman.

When the emotion died down.

Mr. Mccloy.

When the emotion died down, that is true. I have some further questions.

The Chairman.

Have you finished, Mr. Stern?

Mr. Stern.

I want to get one thing established that came up yesterday. Mr. Belmont, yesterday the Commission was interested in determining, if possible, when Agent Hosty recorded the interviews that he had taken on October 29, November 1, and November 5. He wasn't certain, except that he thought it had been done after the assassination. Have you caused a check to be made on that?

Mr. Belmont.

Yes; we checked with our Dallas office, and they do not have a specific record of when that information was recorded.

Mr. Stern.

Was it recorded in substantially the same form in some contemporaneous communication?

Mr. Belmont.

Yes; within a day or two, I think on November 4, if I recall correctly, the fact that Hosty had talked to the neighbor of Mrs. Paine and had located Marina Oswald, was sent in by AIRTEL.

Mr. Stern.

You might refer to Commission Exhibit 834, page 9, items 64 and 67, just so the record is straight.

Mr. Belmont.

Item 64 is an AIRTEL from the Dallas office to the headquarters dated October 30, wherein Hosty reported this interview that he had had with the neighbor of Mrs. Paine.
On November 4 the Dallas office reported by AIRTEL the results of his contact with Mrs. Paine on November 1, so that the results of his interviews were incorporated at that time, October 30, November 4, but the actual insert for the report was not prepared until some time later. To the best of Hosty's recollection it was after the 22d and prior to December 2, but he was already on record by these AIRTELs.

Mr. Stern.

Thank you, Mr. Belmont. I have no further questions.

The Chairman.

Mr. McCloy.

Mr. Mccloy.

I have one or two questions.
Mr. Belmont, you do know the charge has been made by some that Oswald was what is called a secret agent. Do you have any information whatever that would cause you to believe that Oswald was or could have been an agent or an informant of the FBI?