(Testimony of Bernice Waterman)
Mr. Dulles.
that when the question came up later of the issuance of a passport, since there was no lookout card, this file was not consulted.
Miss WATERMAN. Well, that could be. That was, I believe--I believe that was after I had anything to do with the file.
Mr. Dulles.
Yes; I know. You cannot testify as to that.
Mr. Coleman.
Now, Miss Waterman, would you be kind enough to turn over to the next document which you have before you, after the August 18, 1961, memorandum?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
And that is in the file--your file as 1X-24. It has been given Commission Exhibit No. 980.
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
And will you note that there is some typewritten material that appears on the first page which says, "Attached report is a summation of Subject's background and case since he renounced U.S. citizenship and sought Soviet citizenship in the fall of 1959. As his citizenship status does not appear to be resolved, copies of the report are furnished to both PPT and VO."
And the attachment is an FBI report.
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
Written on the side in your handwriting, I assume, is the word "incorrect."
Miss WATERMAN. That is correct.
Mr. Coleman.
Do you recall when you wrote that on that paper?
Miss WATERMAN. Well, probably when I saw it. I would not recall when I wrote it, but it would be the statement--my inference there that the statement in this memorandum is what you might call a misnomer would have been correct at any date.
Mr. Dulles.
Who wrote this memorandum which you indicated was incorrect?
Miss WATERMAN. I have a line there "renounced U.S. citizenship." In other words, somebody who had nothing to do with the adjudication of the case or citizenship had made a statement in there that this person had renounced, and that is a rather poor thing to have in the file which is going around to various places in the Department or possibly elsewhere. And I did write that on, with reference only to his renunciation.
Mr. Dulles.
With reference to that one statement?
Miss WATERMAN. That is right.
Mr. Coleman.
And then on December 28, 1961, you drafted a memorandum which purports to be from Miss Knight to Robert F. Hale, in which you indicated that any inference in the memorandum of July 27, 1961, which is the document I have just asked you about- ---
Miss WATERMAN. Yes.
Mr. Coleman.
That Oswald was not a citizen of the United States is incorrect.
Miss WATERMAN. That is right.
Mr. Coleman.
And you prepared----
Miss WATERMAN. In other words, this memorandum which I did make the notation on was sent to other parts of the Department, and we wanted to correct that impression, that there was any evidence of expatriation by Oswald, by renunciation of U.S. citizenship, or any other way.
Mr. Coleman.
That has been marked as Commission Exhibit No. 981, which is the memorandum of December 28, 1961, in which you made the statement that any inference that Mr. Oswald had--was not a citizen of the United States was incorrect.
Mr. Waterman.
Well, yes; well, that is self-explanatory.
Mr. Coleman.
Then on the same day you drafted an operations memorandum to be sent to the Embassy in Moscow in which you said that the Passport Office approves the manner of the Embassy's replies to Mr. Oswald with respect to passport facilities for him in the future. Is that correct? That you drafted that memorandum?
Miss WATERMAN. Yes; I drafted that.
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