Mr. Coleman.

was second secretary and consul, American Embassy, Moscow, U.S.S.R., in 1959, and remained in that post in Moscow through at least the middle of 1961.
Mr. Snyder will be asked to testify concerning Lee Harvey Oswald's actions when he came into the American Embassy in Moscow on October 31, 1959, and stated that he desired to renounce his U.S. citizenship, the actions which the Embassy took at that time, and the information which it gave to the State Department.
Mr. Snyder also handled the interview of Oswald when he appeared at the Embassy in July of 1961, and had his passport returned to him, and will be asked to testify about the return of the passport.
Mr. Snyder will also be asked to identify for the record the various Embassy dispatches and State Department instructions which were exchanged concerning Oswald in 1959, 1960, and to the middle of 1961.

The Chairman.

Mr. Snyder, it is customary for us to read a statement of that kind to the witness, so you will be apprised of what we are going to interview you about.
Will you please rise and raise your right hand and be sworn?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give before this Commission shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Snyder.

I do, sir.

The Chairman.

You may be seated.
Mr. Coleman will conduct the examination.

Mr. Coleman.

Mr. Snyder, will you state your name for the record.

Mr. Snyder.

Richard Edward Snyder.

Mr. Coleman.

And what is your present address?

Mr. Snyder.

118 Geary Drive, South Plainfield, N.J.

Mr. Coleman.

Are you presently employed by the Federal Government?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

In what capacity?

Mr. Snyder.

As a Foreign Service officer of the Department of State.

Mr. Coleman.

Where are you presently stationed?

Mr. Snyder.

In Tokyo, American Embassy.

Mr. Coleman.

Directing your attention to the fall of 1959, were you employed by the Federal Government at that time?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

Where were you stationed?

Mr. Snyder.

At the Embassy in Moscow.

Mr. Coleman.

What was your title?

Mr. Snyder.

Second secretary and consul, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

I take it that you have had called to your attention a copy of the joint resolution which was adopted by Congress with respect to the Commission.

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

And I also take it that since you have been back in the country that you have had an opportunity to look at the various State Department files dealing with Oswald.

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

Calling your attention to the date of October 31----

Mr. Dulles.

Could I ask one question, Mr. Coleman, about that? What previous posts had you had before going to Moscow?

Mr. Snyder.

Well, my first post in the Foreign Service----

Mr. Dulles.

I am interested as an old Foreign Service officer.

Mr. Snyder.

I see. I served for a brief time in HICOG in Frankfurt, Germany and then for about 2 years in Munich, in the consulate general, which was my first post in the Foreign Service.
My second post, I spent 1 year in the boondocks of Japan, in Niigata, on the Sea of Japan, in a one-man cultural center.

Mr. Dulles.

As a Foreign Service officer?

Mr. Snyder.

As a Foreign Service officer; yes, sir. I was assigned to this duty at a time when USIS was still part of the State Department, and when I reached my post it had already been separated, so I was on loan to them. And