(Testimony of Bernice Waterman)
Mr. Coleman.
it indicates that Oswald has informed the Embassy that he had an internal Soviet passport in which he was designated as "without citizenship."
And the Embassy Despatch actually has as a copy the letter which Mr. Oswald sent to the Embassy in May 1961.
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
And you received that in Washington some time shortly after March 26, 1961.
Miss WATERMAN. We received it in our particular office on June 12.
Mr. Coleman.
As a result of receiving----
Mr. Dulles.
Just one second.
June----
Miss WATERMAN. I am going by our automatic clock stamps on the reverse of the original.
Mr. Dulles.
You received it on June 12?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; we received it in our action office June 12, 1961.
Mr. Coleman.
After you received it, you then considered whether the Embassy should return to Mr. Oswald his passport. And your decision as finally made is reflected in the State Department instruction dated July 11, 1961, which is your X-31, which has been marked Commission Exhibit No. 975, is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; I am looking at a copy.
Mr. Coleman.
In those instructions, you said that Mr. Oswald could be given his passport, is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. Well, yes---because we are in effect agreeing with the suggestion of the Embassy. We are telling the Embassy that we----
Mr. Coleman.
You are agreeing with their despatch of May 26, 1961, which has been identified for the record as Commission Exhibit No. 973.
Miss WATERMAN. What is this word? Oh--"seek."
Mr. Coleman.
Is that correct?
Miss WATERMAN. What was your question again now?
Mr. Coleman.
I am saying what you were agreeing to was the proposed action of the Embassy as set forth in its Foreign Service Despatch dated May 26, 1961?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; but I see we also note that the Embassy intended to contact the Department again before granting any documentation to Oswald.
Mr. Dulles.
Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Dulles.
Back on the record.
Mr. Coleman.
I note on Commission Exhibit No. 975, which is your X-31, that on the side there is written "Pink copy of this sent to EE:SOV Miss James, BW7-17-61."
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; I am looking at that.
Mr. Coleman.
Do you recall whether Miss James asked you to send her a copy, or did you just send her a copy without being requested?
Miss WATERMAN. No; I would not recall, really. We tried to keep--since there were many interests involved here, we did try to keep the geographic division up to date on what we were doing, so that they would have more or less a complete picture of the case.
Mr. Coleman.
Then I would like to next call your attention to your document which is X-28.
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
That is a memorandum which you prepared, Commission Exhibit No. 978, in which you state that Miss James called and said that she wanted to know what reply had been made to the Moscow despatch 29, July 11, 1961, in the case of Oswald. And you stated that the draft reply was in preparation, and you also said that Miss James said that the communication should be cleared with the SOV, and then you make a comment that you never heard that the Passport Section's citizenship decisions should be routed to SOV for clearance.
Miss WATERMAN. That is right.
Mr. Coleman.
Nevertheless, you indicated in the memorandum that you would indicate that the SOV had a special interest in the reply to the despatch, is that correct?
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