(Testimony of Bernice Waterman)
Mr. Dulles.
That is correct. In paragraph 2 there is reference to the circumstances under which his passport can be returned, and there is this phrase: "His passport may be delivered to him on a personal basis only."
What does that mean?
Miss WATERMAN. I think it meant deliver it to him in person.
Mr. Dulles.
I see deliver it to him in person.
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; I think those are the words of Mr. Hickey. I believe that somewhere in the file there is a memorandum which Mr. Hickey returned to Mr. White's division, giving his views.
Mr. Dulles.
And that may be qualified by the last sentence here, suggesting that it would not be wise to send it through the mails?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; in other words, the memorandum which Mr. Hickey returned to us, with our proposed instruction, was used as a basis for our action.
Mr. Dulles.
It was to be given to him personally, and not transmitted through the mails.
Miss WATERMAN. I think that is what it means.
Mr. Coleman.
And, also, the State Department instructions were that he was to get the passport only after the Embassy had thoroughly questioned Oswald regarding the circumstances of his residence in the Soviet Union, and his possible commitment of an act or acts of expatriation?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
Miss Waterman, I note on the side of the State Department instruction a notation that CIA furnished copy "on case by me, 10-5-61." Do you know who wrote that, and what that means?
Miss WATERMAN. Well, I think the person has initialed it who wrote it.
Mr. Coleman.
Who is CHS?
Miss WATERMAN. I think that is Mr. Seeley--Mr. Carroll Seeley.
Mr. Coleman.
Carroll H. Seeley, Jr.?
Miss WATERMAN. If that is the way his name is listed in the book.
Mr. Coleman.
Is he an attorney in the Passport Office?
Miss WATERMAN. I don't know what he is now. So far as I know, he was an attorney at that time. He was in--in the Legal Division of the Passport Office.
Mr. Coleman.
I also note in the next paper which is attached to Commission Exhibit No. 971 we have marked as Commission Exhibit 972, there is a reference sheet----
Mr. Dulles.
What is that paper?
Mr. Coleman.
It is physically attached.
Mr. Dulles.
You see, exhibit numbers won't appear----
Mr. Coleman.
Well, it is a reference sheet dated 10-5-61, which indicates that a Thermofax copy of the Department of State Instruction No. A-173, dated April 13, 1961, was sent to the CIA. Is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. I know nothing about that. That is something that was entirely outside of our Adjudication Division, our Foreign Operations Division.
Mr. Coleman.
But the reference indicates that it was prepared by Robert D. Johnson, Chief Counsel, Passport Office, under date of 10-5-61, is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. I am looking at it. Yes. But that was nothing that emanated from our part of the Passport Office.
Mr. Coleman.
After you prepared and had sent forward the Department of State instruction dated April 13, 1961, you then, on or about May 26, 1961, received the Embassy Foreign Despatch of that date, is that correct?
Miss. WATERMAN. Yes, yes.
Mr. Coleman.
And that despatch, which is your No. X-34, has been given Commission Exhibit No. 973, states that the Embassy had received another letter from Oswald, is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; I am looking at a copy.
Mr. Coleman.
And also the despatch----
Mr. Dulles.
Would you identify that a little bit?
Mr. Coleman.
The despatch is from the Embassy to the Department of State, and it is Commission Exhibit No. 973, written by Mr. Snyder on May 26, 1961, and it indicates, one, that the Embassy has received another letter from Mr. Oswald, and it also indicates that Oswald was married to a Russian woman, and
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