Mr. Snyder.

In renunciation cases, it is a fairly simple matter--that is, for the consular officer, as far as the law is concerned. He doesn't have a large body of law. He has a specific law which tells him exactly what the conditions are for renouncing citizenship, and that is it.

Mr. Dulles.

I differ from you a little bit, in the sense that I don't think if a young fellow 20 years old came in to me and wanted to renounce his citizenship, and if I were doing consular work, as I was at one time---I think I would feel that that was a pretty--rather a tough one to handle.

Mr. Snyder.

I don't say it is not tough to handle. What I meant to say was that the legal basis under which the consul, or within which the consul has to operate----

Mr. Dulles.

I will talk to Mr. Chayes about the problem of a minor doing that.

Mr. Snyder.

From the consular's point of view it is a fairly simple one. It doesn't require a lot of legal research.

Mr. Chayes.

Just to have that in the record at this point the statute provides very clearly on the age problem, section 351(b) of the act provides that below 18 years the act specified--the citizen shall not be deemed to have expatriated himself by the commission prior to his 18th birthday of any of the acts specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Mr. Dulles.

That includes renunciation?

Mr. Chayes.

Yes, 6 is renunciation. But he has to assert---within 6 months after obtaining the age of 18 years---he has to assert his claim to U.S. nationality, in order to get this automatically. But I would think the courts would go further and hold that, especially where volunteerism is involved, as in renunciation, below 18 years is the cutoff point--not 21. It used to be 21, but the Congress reduced the age limit to 18.

Mr. Dulles.

Well, that covers the point here. Was there anything about the Oswald case in the Soviet press at any time to your knowledge?

Mr. Snyder.

To my knowledge, there was not, Mr. Dulles.

Mr. Dulles.

And the Soviet authorities have given you no information about Oswald that hasn't been communicated to us? You have no other information at all from the Soviet authorities about Oswald?

Mr. Snyder.

No, sir; I never communicated with the Soviet authorities about Oswald in any form, nor did they ever ask me anything about him.

Mr. Dulles.

And you don't know any of the other circumstances under which his case was reconsidered after his attempted cutting of his wrists and suicide? You don't know what channels that went through in the Soviet Union?

Mr. Snyder.

I was not aware of this element of the case.

Mr. Dulles.

You were not aware, of course, at that time of this element of the case. Do you know what intourist guides were in charge of him?

Mr. Snyder.

No.

Mr. Dulles.

Do you know any other case during the period when you were in Moscow of an American who had married a Soviet wife and was given an exist visa as quickly and as easily as Oswald and Marina were given theirs?

Mr. Snyder.

I don't know offhand whether Marina Oswald got her visa, her exit visa, that quickly and easily.

Mr. Dulles.

Well, I think that is a matter of record--when she applied and when she got it.

Mr. Coleman.

The American visa----

Mr. Dulles.

This is the Soviet exit visa.

Mr. Coleman.

You are talking about the Soviet passport? She applied for her passport----

Mr. Dulles.

It is a visa to get out.

Mr. Snyder.

It is both. She needs a Soviet passport. They are issued at the same time.

Mr. Dulles.

That is correct.

Mr. Coleman.

She applied for her Soviet passport in July 1961. and she was informed that it would be issued to her approximately on December 25, 1961.

Mr. Dulles.

About 6 months. Do you know of any case where that has been accomplished in 6 months, other than this case, during your' period there? I