For example, there are many people of Armenian origin who have returned to the Soviet Union and have been encouraged to do so by the Soviet Government. And in view of the very large numbers, I would think that the intention to use any of them as an agent would be very rare.
As far as I can understand, they encouraged them to come back because they wanted their skills available.
Senator COOPER. When he applied for a renewal of his passport, his wife, Marina, made application for a passport. And I believe it was said that that was a prerequisite to securing an exit visa from the Soviet Union.
From your experience as Ambassador and in other posts in t.he American Embassy, do you consider the time in which she was able to secure an exit visa from Russia, within so short time, as unusual?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Well, if it was a short time and I am not aware of the exact time,. myself---but if it were a short time, I would say it is unusual, because we have had cases that drag out over years, and in many cases. of course, they never get an exit visa.
Senator COOPER. Well, perhaps without reference to time, from your experience, have you found that--do you know whether it was difficult for a Soviet citizen, such as Marina Oswald, even though she might be married to an American--that it is difficult for them to secure an exit visa from the Soviet Union?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Yes; it is very difficult.
Senator COOPER. Do you know the basis for that? Is it that they do not want to permit the exit of any Soviet citizen?
Ambassador THOMPSON. I think that except in the cases of rather elderly people, they have not wanted any of their people to leave permanently. They let them go on tourist trips abroad, but not for permanent residence. As you possibly know, leaving the Soviet Union without permission is one of the most severely punished crimes you can commit in the Soviet Union.
Senator COOPER. What was that?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Leaving without permission.
Senator COOPER. Would the fact that there was a child born to Lee Oswald and Marina Oswald have altered this practice of the Soviet Union, as far as any experience that you have had or any knowledge you have had about such cases?
Ambassador THOMPSON. I think the existence of a child born in the Soviet Union would normally make it more difficult for a person to secure an exit visa.

Mr. Slawson.

Mr. Ambassador, in the facts of the Oswald case they applied to leave the Soviet Union, of course, well before their first child was born, and in fact probably received Soviet permission to leave in late December 1961, and the child, I believe, was born in February 1962--although the Oswalds in fact did not leave until very early June 1962.
They nevertheless had received Soviet permission to do so before the child was born.
In light of that fact, could you comment further upon the perhaps greater difficulty of leaving when you have a child?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Well, I think probably having once processed the case and agreed to let the husband and wife leave, that they would have been more inclined then to let the child leave than if the case had been considered after the child was born.
Senator COOPER. I take it the policy of the United States would be the reverse that is, because Marina was the wife of Lee Oswald, and because the baby had been born, the practice of the United States would be to grant a passport to Marina for the child.
Ambassador THOMPSON. I believe that is right, on compassionate grounds.
Senator COOPER. Are you familiar with the testimony about a loan that was made to the Oswalds in order to help them get back to the United States?
Ambassador THOMPSON. I have read in the press that they had received the normal loan.
Senator COOPER. Can you say anything about that as a practice of the American Government?
Ambassador THOMPSON. I only know that in general where a citizen wishes to return to the United States and doesn't have the means to do so, that we

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