Mr. Snyder.

I cannot really speak with great authority on the point. I don't think so. This is based on several things.
One, there was very little about Oswald, I think, at the time other than what was sent in by Priscilla Johnson.
Secondly, I believe that Oswald himself had declined to talk to some other press persons of the American press corps.
Priscilla, as I recall, was the only one who seemed to have an entree to him

Representative Ford.

But you did not inform the American press in Moscow of Oswald?

Mr. Snyder.

No.

Representative Ford.

Did you ever talk to any of the American press or any other of the press, about Oswald at this time?

Mr. Snyder.

No; not that I recall, Mr. Ford. It was my normal practice not to discuss cases of this kind. They were occurring all the time in Moscow. If it wasn't one kind it was another. And it was my practice not to discuss the details of such cases with the press simply because the cases---each one being different in any event--the cases were always ticklish. And every little bit helped or hurt in a case of this kind. And the consul needed, to the extent possible, to minimize the forces acting on the case, so that---and the press understood this very well.

Representative Ford.

Were you familiar with his interview with Miss Mosby?

Mr. Snyder.

I don't recall that I was. I knew that Priscilla Johnson had seen him and had been seeing him.
But I don't recall that I was aware that Ellie Mosby had seen him.

Representative Ford.

You were acquainted with Miss Mosby as well as Priscilla Johnson?

Mr. Snyder.

Oh, yes; very well.

Representative Ford.

Are any of these stories that these correspondents write on these defector cases ever checked out with your office, or people, in corresponding position?

Mr. Snyder.

Normally not, I would say.

Representative Ford.

Were you at all aware of the 5,000 rubles that Oswald was given by Soviet authorities or by an agency of the Soviet Union which is sometimes called, I guess, the Red Cross? Are you at all aware of that?

Mr. Snyder.

No.

Representative Ford.

Are you aware of that organization in the Soviet Union?

Mr. Snyder.

Oh, yes.

Representative Ford.

Would you describe it for us, as far as you know what it is?

Mr. Snyder.

Well----

Representative Ford.

5,000 rubles excuse me.

Mr. Snyder.

This was the old rubies at that time. No; I don't----

Mr. Dulles.

For the record, what was the date of the change in the value of the ruble? I think I remember it. It was around 1960--May-June of 1960, I think. When it went into effect, I don't remember.

Mr. Snyder.

I am sorry, I don't either, Mr. Dulles. It was during my term there. It seemed to me it was in the second half of my tour in Moscow. But I cannot really recall.

Mr. Dulles.

I think somewhere in the record that ought to appear. I have an idea it was May of 1960.

Mr. Ehrlich.

January 1, 1961.

Mr. Dulles.

That is when it went into effect?

Mr. Ehrlich.

It was officially revalued.

Mr. Dulles.

January 1, 1961--let the record show that--the ruble was re-valued, so that it took about 10 rubles to make 1 new ruble.

Representative Ford.

So 5,000 rubles in 1959 was not an inconsequential amount.

Mr. Snyder.

Oh, no.

Mr. Dulles.

It wasn't very much.

Mr. Snyder.

No; but 5,000 rubles at that time was probably two-thirds to three-quarters of the monthly salary of an average Soviet worker.

Representative Ford.

Could you describe----