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tio n
o f
C o m m u n is t
p o lic y ,
h a v e
becom e
s e p a ra te d
fro m
th e ir
A m e ric a n
c litiz e n
fa m ilie s .
A n d
fro m
th e
tim e
w e
firs t
re c o g n iz e d
th e
S o v ie ts ,
th is
h a s
b e e n
a
p ro b le m
th e re .
F ile s
a re
fille d
w ith
n o te s
to
th e
S o v ie t
G overnm ent
a s k in g
th e m
to
p le a s e
is s u e
e x it
v is a s
to
p e rm it
c e rta in
re la tiv e s
to
jo in
fa m ilie s
in
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s .
T h is
h a s
g o n e
o n .
a n d
I
re m e m b e r
h e a rin g
a n
o ffic e r
s a y
th a t
i f
th e
re s u lt
o f
re c o g n iz in g
th e
S o v ie t
Irn io n
w as
fo r
n o o th e r
re a s o n
th a n
to
a s s is t
th e s e
p e o p le
th is
w as
a very
p o w e rfu l
re a s o n .
D u rin g
W o rld
W ar
II
n o
v is a s
w e re
is s u e d
a n d
n o b o d y
tra re le d
a n d
th is
d ie d .
R ig h t
a fte r
th e
n a i-
w e
a g a in
h a d
th e
p ro b le m
o f
p e o p le
try in g
to
g e t
th e ir
re la tiv e s
o u t,
a n d
th e
num ber
w as
g re a tly
in c re a s e d
b y
R u s s ia
ta k in g
o v e r
th o s e
v a rio u s
c o u n trie s .
L ith u a n ia ,
E s to n ia ,
p a rts
o f
P o la n d ,
p a rts
o f
C z e c h o s lo v a k ia ,
R u m a n ia
w e n t
in to
th e
S o v ie t
U n io n ,
a n d
we had
th e n u m b e r
g re a tly
e n la rg e d .
T h e n ,
in
a d d itio n
to
th a t,
b e c a u s e
o f
w ar
o p e ra tio n s ,
A m e ric a n
c itiz e n s
w e re
s ta tio n e d
in
th e
S o v ie t
U n io n
a n d
th e y
h a d
m a rrie d
S o v ie t
w om en,
a n d
s o
w e
h a d
p re s s in g
c a s e s
o f
c o rre s p o n d e n ts .
A m e ric a n
c o rre s p o n d e n ts ,
a
fe w
p e o p le
a s s ig n e d
to
th e
E m bassy
in
J lo s c o m
w ho
m a rrie d
S o v ie t
w iv e s ,
p ro b a b ly
a b o u t
15 or
1 6
w ho
w e re
v e ry ,
w h a t
w e
w o u ld
c a ll,
w o rth y
c a s e s
o f
g o o d
m a rria g e s
a n d
g o o d
p e o p le
w ho
h a d
m ade
a good
m a rria g e
w ith
w om en
w e
th o u g h t
w e re
g o o d
p e o p le ,
a n d
th e y
h a v e
s in c e
m ade
g o o d
A m e ric a n
c itiz e n s .
S o
in
1 9 5 3 ,
w h e n
S ta lin
d ie d ,
w e
h a d
th e
firs t
b re a k ,
a n d
th e y
is s u e d
th e
v is a s
o n
th is
g ro u p .
A n d
s in c e
th e n
w e
h a v e
g o n e
fo rw a rd
w ith
th is .
W e
s a w
w e
h a d
a
b re a k
a n d
so we
h a v e
b e e n
p re s s in g
th e
S o v ie t
G overnm ent
to
is s u e
v is a s
to
c le a r
th is
p ro b le m
u p .
In
1 9 5 9
w h e n
M r.
S ix o n
w e n t
th e re ,
h e
w as
im p o rtu n e d
b y
re la tiv e s
to
h e lp
to
g e t
th e ir
re la tiv e s
o u t,
I
m ean
A m e ric a n
c itiz e n s ,
a n d
h e
to o k
a list
of about
8 0
p e o p le ,
a n d
h e
a g re e d
to
ta k e
u p
th e s e
c a s e s ,
a n d
w e
a d d e d
a
num ber
o f
w o rth y
c a s e s ,
a n d
M r.
K h ru s h c h e v
s a id ,
\u201cI
w a n t
to
c le a r
u p
th is
p ro b le m \u201d-
p re s e n t
it
th ro u g h
c h a n n e ls .
S in c e
th e n .
w e
h a v e
p re s e n te d
it
th ro u g h
c h a n n e ls
a n d
w e
h a v e
s u c c e e d e d
in
g e ttin g
a b o u t
8 0 0 re la tiv e s
o f A m e ric a n
c itiz e n s
o u t.
A n d
th e
d e fe c to r\u2019s
w ife
fa lls
in to
th a t
p a tte rn ,
b e c a u s e
w h ile
w e
a re
n o t
s y m p a th e tic
w ith
th e s e
p e o p le
w e
k n o w
th a t
i f
w e
re fu s e
to
g ra n t
F .8 .
v is a s
to
a wife
of an
A m e ric a n
c itiz e n ,
th e
S o v ie t
G overnm ent
c a n
im m e d ia te ly
s a y ,
\u201cW e ll,
w e
g ra n t
v is a s
to
th e s e
p e o p le ,
e x it
v is a s .
T h e n
y o u
d o n \u2019t
a llo w
th e m
to
g o
to
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s .
W hat
d o e s
th is
m ean?\u2019
S o th a t
w as
th e
b a s is
of our
w h o le
p o lic y
w ith
M a rin a
O s w a ld ,
th a t
w e
fe lt
th a t
w e
d id n \u2019t
w a n t
to
p u t
th e
E m bassy
in
a p o s itio n
o f fig h tin g
fo r
e x it
v is a s
fo r
re la tiv e s ,
a n d
th e n
w h e n
th e y
is s u e
y o u
s a y , \u201cW e ll,
th is
is n o t
q u ite
th e
k in d
w e w a n t.\u201d
M r.
C O LE M A N .
In
o th e r
w o rd s ,
y o u
s a y
th a t
o n c e
th e
P a s s p o rt
O ffic e
m ade
th e
d e c is io n
th a t
O s w a ld
w as
s till
a n
A m e ric a n
c itiz e n ,
th e n
y o u r
p o lic y
th a t
y o u
d o n \u2019t
w a n t
to
s e p a ra te
h u s b a n d s
a n d
w iv e s
cam e
in to
p la y ,
a n d
if the
S o v ie t
U n io n
is
w illin g
to
le t
b o th
o f
th e m
o u t.
th a t
w e
w ill
le t
th e m
com e
in ?
M iss
JA M E S .
T h a t
is
th e
b a s ic
p o lic y .
T h a t
w as
th e
w h o le
in te re s t
in
o u r
O ffice, the
E m bassy
in
J lo s c o w \u2019s
p rim a ry
in te re s t
th e re
as far
a s M a rin a
O s w a ld
w as
c o n c e rn e d ,
a n d
h e r
c h ild .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
I have
n o fu rth e r
q u e s tio n s .
T h a n k
y o u .
T E S T IM O N Y
O F
JA M E S
L .
R IT C H IE
T h e
te s tim o n y
of James
L .
R itc h ie
w as
ta k e n
a t
1 2 :2 0
p .m .,
o n
J u n e
17, 1964,
a t 2 0 0 M a ry la n d
A v e n u e
S E .,
W a s h in g to n ,
D.C., by Messrs.
W illia m
T . C o le m a n ,
J r.,
a n d
W .
D a v id
S la w s o n ,
a s s is ta n t
c o u n s e l
o f
th e
P re s id e n t\u2019s
C o m m is s io n ,
Thom as
E h rlic h ,
S p e c ia l
A s s is ta n t
to
th e
L e g a l
A d v is e r,
D e p a rtm e n t
o f
S ta te ,
a n d
C a rro ll
H .
S e e le y ,
J r.,
w e re
p re s e n t.
M r.
C O L E M A N . M r.
R itc h ie ,
w ill
y o u
s ta te
y o u r
fu ll
nam e?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Jam es
L .
R itc h ie .
1 9 1
M r.
C O LE M A N .
W ill
you
ra is e
your
rig h t
hand
?
D o
you
s o le m n ly
sw e a r
th e
te s tim o n y
you
a re
about
to
g iv e
is
th e
w h o le
tru th ,
and
n o th in g
b u t
th e
tru th ,
so
h e lp
you
G od?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
d o .
M r.
C O L E J IA N .
P le a s e
s ta te
your
nam e
and
a d d re ss.
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Jam es
L .
R itc h ie ,
5010
N o rth
1 3 th
S tre e t,
A rlin g to n ,
V a.
M r.
C O LE ~~A N .
O ur
in fo rm a tio n
is ,
s ir,
th a t
som e
tim e
around
O c to b e r
2 2 ,
l% Z ,
you
had
o c c a s io n
to
lo o k
a t
th e
O s w a ld
fll~
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
d id .
M r.
C O L E ? IIA N .
A fte r
th e
D e p a rtm e n t
re c e iv e d
a
te le g ra m
fro m
th e
C IA
in -
d ic a tin g
th a t
O s w a ld
had
m ade
an
in q u iry
a t
th e
R u s s ia n
E m b a ssy
in
M e x ic o
C ity ,
and
th a t
you
to o k
c e rta in
a c tio n
as
a
re s u lt
o f
lo o k in g
a t
th e
file ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
d id .
M r.
C O L E S IA N .
A nd
th a t
is
w h a t
w e
w a n t
to
a sk
you
a b o u t,
s ir.
B ut
b e fo re
I
do
th a t,
le t
m e
a sk
you
a
fe w
p re lim in a ry
q u e s tio n s .
M r.
R IT C H IE .
C e rta in ly .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
T o u
have
g iv e n
your
a d d re ss,
is
th a t
c o rre c t?
J Ir.
R IT C H IE .
Y e s ,
s ir.
M r.
C O LE X A N .
W h e re
a re
you
p re s e n tly
w o rk in g ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
S ta te
D e p a rtm e n t
P a ssp o rt
O ffic e ,
Legal
D iv is io n .
M r.
C O LE ~X A N .
A nd
w h a t
is
your
p o s itio n ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
A tto rn e y
a d v is o r.
M r.
C O LE U A N .
A nd
h o w
lo n g
have
you
been
in
th a t
c a p a c ity ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
S in e
or
te n
ye a rs.
M r.
C O LE M A N .
A re
you
a
m em ber
o f
th e
B a r?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Y e s ;
D is tric t
o f
C o lu m b ia .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
W hen
w as
th e
firs t
tim e
you
ever
h e a rd
th e
nam e
Lee
H arvey
O s w a ld ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
O c to b e r
2 2 ,
1963.
M r.
C O LE M A N .
A nd
w o u ld
you
in d ic a te
w h a t
o c c a s io n e d
your
h e a rin g
th e
nam e?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
T h e
S e c u rity
D iv is io n
tra n s m itte d
a
te le g ra m
fro m
th e
C IA
m arked
S e c re t,
to
th e
P a ssp o rt
O ffic e .
It
w as
re c e iv e d
in
th e
Legal
D iv is io n
O c to b e r
1 6 ,
and
it
had
been
m arked
\u201cM r.
A nderson,
p u ll
p re v io u s \u201d
w h ic h
m eans
g e t
th e
file ,
and
it
w as
th e n
handed
to
m e
O c to b e r
2 1 ,
a p p ro x im a te ly .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
W ho
handed
it
to
you?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
d o n \u2019t
kn o w .
It
w as
p la c e d
on
m y
d e sk.
I
im a g in e
th e
file ---
M r.
C O LE M A N .
P rio r
to
th a t
tim e ,
you
h a d n \u2019t
c a lle d
fo r
th e
d ie ?
Y O U
kn e w
n o th in g
about
th e
case?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
N o
;
I
kn e w
n o th in g
about
it.
It
had
been
p la c e d
on
m y
desk
fo r
re v ie w .
I
re a d
th e
te le g ra m ,
n o te d
th a t
c o p ie s
had
been
se n t
to
S C A ,
th a t
is
th e
B u re a u
o f
S e c u rity
and
C o n s u la r
A ffa irs ,
C M A ,
M e x ic o ,
th e
S o v ie t
d e sk,
and
th e
p re ss
s e c tio n
o f
R A R .
M r.
S E E LE Y .
A m e ric a n
R e p u b lic s
P o litic a l
D iv is io n .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
T h e n
w h a t
d id
you
do
a fte r
you
g o t
th e
te le g ra m ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
re v ie w e d
th e
e n tire
file .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
T h a t
m eans
you
re a d
e ve ry
docum ent
in
th e
file ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Y e s .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
A nd
do
you
have
any
id e a
h o w
lo n g
it
to o k
you?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
N ot
m ore
th a n
a
h a lf
h o u r.
M r.
C O LE ~X A N .
A nd
th e n
w h a t
d id
you
do
a fte r
you
re a d
or
re v ie w e d
th e
A le ?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
d o n \u2019t
w a n t
to
sa y
I
re a d
e ve ry
ite m .
I
re a d
th e
m a jo rity .
M r.
C O L E b fA N .
A s
a
la w y e r?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Y e s ;
I
g la n c e d
over
it.
M r.
C O LE M A N .
Y ou
re a d
w h a t
you
fe lt
w as
re le v a n t?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
R e le v a n t.
M r.
C O LE M A N .
B ut
you
d id
th u m b
th ro u g h
e ve ry
d o c u m e n t?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
Y e s .
M r.
(IO u s b fm .
W hat
d id
you
th e n
do?
M r.
R IT C H IE .
I
m ade
a
ju d g m e n t
th e re
w as
no
p a ssp o rt
a c tio n
to
be
ta k e n ,
and
m arked
th e
file
to
be
file d .
M r.
C O LE M A N .
D id
you
m ake
a
w ritte n
m em orandum ?
1 9 2
of 00

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