(Testimony of Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald Resumed)
Mrs. Oswald.
The last sentence of the English text reads: "Please let Mrs. Ruth Paine know I owe to her much and think of her as one of my best friends."
Whereas the letter only states that: "Of course, consider her my friend."
Mr. Rankin.
Mrs. Oswald, I call your attention to Commission Exhibit No. 990 and ask you to note the date which appears to be December 7, 1964.
The Dallas Civil Liberties Union letter, you will note, was dated January 6, 1964, which I will hand you so you can examine it. Could you explain that discrepancy? You might wish to examine them.
Mrs. Oswald.
It can't possibly be the 7th of December 1964 because it hasn't even come yet.
Mr. Rankin.
You might wish to examine the envelope, Exhibit No. 991, that may help you as to the correct date.
Mrs. Oswald.
January 8. I wrote this January 7. It was just my mistake. I wrote it on January 7 and mailed it on the 8th. I just out of habit still writing December.
Mr. Mckenzie.
Mr. Rankin, may I ask the Commission, on Commission Exhibit No. 988, which purports to be a translation of Mrs. Oswald's letter to the Dallas Civil Liberties Union, do you know who translated this letter or could you tell us who translated the letter?
Mr. Rankin.
Mr. McKenzie----
Mrs. Oswald.
They wrote me that I can answer them in Russian, and which I did but I haven't any idea who translated my answer.
Mr. RANKIN The Commission Exhibit No. 987 which I will now offer states that the translation was handled by Mrs. Ford and later seen by Mrs. Paine.
The translation of the exhibit that you now have in your hand, what is the number of that?
Mr. Mckenzie.
This is Commission Exhibit No. 988 in English which purports to be a translation of Mrs. Oswald's letter to the Dallas Civil Liberties Union and I am asking does the Commission know who translated the letter?
Mr. Rankin.
We were informed by the Dallas Civil Liberties Union in Exhibit No. 987 that the translation was made by Mrs. Ford and later seen by Mrs. Paine, and I now offer all exhibits together with Exhibit No. 987 as part of the testimony of this witness.
Mr. Dulles.
The exhibits shall be admitted. Have we the numbers of all of these exhibits?
Mr. Rankin.
Yes; the reporter has them.
(Commission Exhibit No. 987 was marked for identification and received in evidence.)
Mr. Rankin.
Mrs. Oswald, I will hand you the cameras of your----
Mr. Dulles.
I wonder before we finish this----
Mr. Mckenzie.
I would prefer, Mr. Rankin, for the purposes of the record so that the record will be complete, to have a correct English translation of Mrs. Oswald's letter in the record in lieu of Commission Exhibit No. 988.
Mr. Rankin.
Mr. Chairman, if it is agreeable to the Commission, I would like to ask counsel to furnish such a translation and we will then make it the next number, Exhibit No. 992, as a part of this record.
Mr. Dulles.
That shall be admitted then as Exhibit No. 992, the other already being in the record I think, probably has to stay there particularly in view of all this discussion of it.
Mr. Rankin.
If you will furnish it.
Mr. Mckenzie.
You are putting the onus or burden back on me, Mr. Rankin, when the Commission has a fully qualified, I presume, Russian interpreter here, and if the Commission would not mind going to the further expense of having the interpretation of the letter made, I think it would expedite the Commission's report.
Mr. Rankin.
If it is satisfactory to Mr. McKenzie, then, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Coulter if he would make a translation and submit it to Mr. McKenzie for submission to his client for approval, and then we will have that marked the Exhibit No. 992 and made part of this record.
Mr. Dulles.
Excellent, that will be admitted as such, Commission Exhibit No. 992.
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