Mr. Snyder.

Well, there are two possibilities here. One possibility is that the crossing out of "have not" is a clerical error, and that he did not intend to do this.

Mr. Coleman.

How could that be a possibility. Don't you pretty much negate that possibility by the fact that you did require him to fill out the questionnaire which only has to be filled out if he admits that he has done one of the various acts?

Mr. Snyder.

No; the questionnaire is filled out routinely in Moscow in any kind of problem case.

Mr. Coleman.

Even though the citizen has done none of the acts which are set forth in the passport renewal application?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes; well, I say in a problem case. I don't mean an American tourist coming in to get his passport renewed, on whom there is no presumption of any problem at all. But a person who has resided in the Soviet Union----

Mr. Coleman.

Is it your testimony this is only a typographical error?

Mr. Snyder.

This is one possibility. The other possibility is that he may have said, "I have taken an oath or made an affirmation or formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state."
He had, on several occasions, you know, stated that his allegiance was to the Soviet Union.
He may have put this down--that is, he may have said "have", having that act in mind, knowing that I knew it, and that there was no need to attempt to hide the fact. This is possible.

Mr. Coleman.

Do you recall just what you had in mind on July 10 when he gave you that application filled out in the manner it was?

Mr. Snyder.

I am sorry, I don't think I understand the question.

Mr. Coleman.

Then I will withdraw it and rephrase it. Do you now recall what reaction you had in mind when you received the application which had been crossed out in such a way that indicated that he was admitting that he had done one of the various acts which are set forth on the form?

Mr. Snyder.

No; I don't. Of course what I would have been concerned with at the time in more detail really is the questionnaire, which is an expansion of this paragraph, and is much more meaningful. So I would have been concerned. both with what he said on the questionnaire and with the facts of his case whether he thought he committed one of these acts is not material to the fact of whether he had committed it or whether he lost his citizenship thereby.
At any rate, my attention would have been directed to the expanded questionnaire in which he had to fill out individual paragraphs concerning each one of these things, and to a determination of the facts in the case.

Mr. Dulles.

Do you recall whether or not that striking out was noted at the time the passport application or extension was considered?

Mr. Snyder.

I do not, Mr. Dulles; no.

Representative Ford.

Did you have his file out and looking at it, reading it, studying at the time he was there and this came up?

Mr. Snyder.

I presume I did, Mr. Ford, but--I am sure his file was there. But in any event, I was the officer handling his case. Having written virtually everything in the file from the outgoing point of view, I was very well familiar with it.

Mr. Coleman.

In any event, having received the questionnaire and the application, you determined that Mr. Oswald was entitled to an American passport, is that correct?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

And you sent forward the application and the questionnaire in the Foreign Service Despatch of July 11, 1961, which has been marked Exhibit No. 935, is that correct?

Mr. Snyder.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

And your recommendation was that the passport should issue--the passport office should issue a new passport, is that correct?

Mr. Snyder.

I would issue the passport; yes.

Mr. Coleman.

And also on the same day, at the end of the interview on July 10, 1961, you returned to Mr. Oswald the American passport which he had given you in 1969. Is that correct?