I don't quite recall. At any rate, there is an entry in there which asks to state his nationality. No, it is a separate passport. As I recall the title of it, it is called--it is a separate passport.

Mr. Dulles.

Did the Soviet Union ever indicate to the Embassy, as far as you know, that they considered Oswald as stateless, or is that Oswald's own statement?

Mr. Snyder.

The only indication is the internal passport which he had, which was made out by local officials, and which may have been based upon a statement that Oswald himself made to them. He may have regarded himself as being stateless, I don't know, at the time he applied for that document.

Mr. Dulles.

And that did not necessarily require, as far as you know, reference to Moscow?

Mr. Snyder.

No.

Mr. Dulles.

You think the local authorities could have done that on their own, and on the information they got from Oswald?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes; the term "stateless," I might interject here, is used rather loosely by Soviet authorities, because, in the first place, they have clearly no authority and no basis upon which to determine whether a person is a citizen of a foreign state. I mean only the foreign state can determine that.
So that the Soviet authorities had no basis on which to determine whether Oswald was or was not a citizen of the United States or of six other countries.

Mr. Dulles.

Except the fact that they had seen his passport and knew of the existence of his American passport.

Mr. Snyder.

On that basis, they would-well, he was certainly an American citizen when he entered as far as they were concerned; yes, sir.

Representative Ford.

Is a person who is stateless the same as a person who is "without citizenship"?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir; this distinction is only in translation, Mr. Ford.

Mr. Coleman.

Mr. Snyder, in the passport application, at the bottom there is a place where you have to cross out "have" or "'have not" in connection with four questions. Could you read into the record the printed part at the bottom of the application?

Mr. Dulles.

Would you just clarify for us what application this is?

Mr. Coleman.

This is the application for the passport renewal which Oswald signed----

Mr. Dulles.

For the American passport to return to the United States?

Mr. Coleman.

Well, this is a renewal of the passport.

Mr. Dulles.

A renewal of the passport to return to the United States?

Mr. Snyder.

It says, "I have have not--been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign state; taken an oath or made an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state; entered or served in, the armed forces of a foreign state; accepted, served in, or performed the duties of, any office, post or employment under the government of a foreign state or political subdivision thereof; voted in a political election in a foreign state or participated in an election or plebiscite to determine the sovereignty over foreign territory; made a formal renunciation of nationality, either in the United States or before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state; been convicted by court martial of deserting the military, air or naval service of the United States in time of war, or of committing any act of treason against or of attempting by force to overthrow, or of bearing arms against the United States; or departed from or remained outside the jurisdiction of the United States for the purpose of evading or avoiding training and service in the military, air or naval forces of the United States.
"If any of the above-mentioned acts or conditions are applicable to the applicant's case, or to the case of any other person included in this application, a supplementary statement under oath should be attached and made a part hereof."

Mr. Coleman.

Mr. Snyder, as I read the application, what you did was to cross out the "have not" which means that Oswald was stating that he had done one of those acts which you have read, is that correct?

Mr. Snyder.

This is what it would mean.

Mr. Coleman.

Which one of the various acts that you have read was it your impression that Oswald was admitting that he had done?