(Testimony of Paul M. Raigorodsky)
Mr. Raigorodsky.
I had some small stock deals with him, oil deals when he would drill a well and I would buy a certain portion of the deal, maybe one- sixteenth or something like that. He had one dry hole I can remember and one well that came in very small and nothing to brag about and he tried to get to go with him in business with him in Haiti.
Mr. Jenner.
To whom?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
To the banker--the banker--Commercial de Haiti. You can read that and pick up anything you want here and tell me what you want [referring to deponent's file]. He writes all the time he was trying to get a $100,000 corporation set up here to do business with Duvalier, the head of the Haitian Government in the making of hemp and they were giving him concessions and lots of acreage which you could pick up for drilling and everything else, and he was trying to get people to come here and subscribe to stock but he didn't do anything. I believe that I have reported that incident and then there are lots of Russians here and some others told me about that trip of George's.
Mr. Jenner.
Down through Mexico?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Down through Mexico, and I believe I called the FBI and told them. I said, "I don't know whether it means anything or nothing.
Mr. Jenner.
Who is Mr. John De Menil?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Mr. John De Menil is a very close friend of mine. He is the financial head of Schlumberger Co. and when I wouldn't go with George in the deal, he asked me to give him any suggestion as to who may be interested, so I suggested John De Menil because the Schlumberger Co. is a worldwide organization and they deal with every country in the world--you know what I am trying to say?
Mr. Davis.
Yes; I do. I am familiar with the name Schlumberger.
Mr. Raigorodsky.
And that he might be interested in going in business in Haiti, and at my suggestion he called him and went to see him and nothing came out of it because John De Menil finally turned him down after the investigation.
Now, I am very sorry that in the past years I have had some correspondence with George but I didn't keep it, but then when things began to pop up and his name appeared in so many different things, I thought I better keep a file on him.
Mr. Jenner.
Apparently this Haitian venture was in gestation or in the works as far back as 1962, is that what you understand?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Yes; you know, he was consultant to the Yugoslav Government?
Mr. Jenner.
He was a consultant to the Yugoslavian Government?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
He was a consultant to the Yugoslavian Government. In fact, he was sent to Yugoslavian Government with the blessing of our Government, maybe---I don't know under what protocol that we were helping the Yugoslavians, and he went over there but peculiarly, in order to receive the appointment he had to have recommendations of some man known in the industry, and he didn't come to me---I can say this--I don't brag, but if he came to me that would have meant something to him because I was with the Government on a couple or two or three times, but instead of that he goes to Jake Hamon, a close friend of mine, and asked him for a recommendation on that job. Jake said he would not give him a recommendation unless he consults me. That surprised me that he wouldn't ask me right off the bat, but he went around about way. What could I do? Of course I said, technically on the job he is perfectly all right, I mean, he is a good engineer--good petroleum engineer.
Mr. Jenner.
And that's your opinion of him?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Oh, yes, without any question. You know, that field is quiet a field--that you have to be supplied with a knowledge of underground structures and movement of the oil, and he had a good job, and as far as know he quit the job--he was not fired.
Mr. Jenner.
Are you acquainted with his reputation in this community for truth and veracity?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Well, I'll say there is no other way around this--I don't think his reputation is that of a truthful person.
Mr. Jenner.
His reputation in that respect is poor or bad?
Mr. Raigorodsky.
Bad.
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