(Members present at this point: Chief Justice Warren, and Mr. Dulles.)
The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, the Commission will come to order. Mr.
Coleman, would you make a statement as to the purpose of the meeting
this morning?
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Chief Justice, the first witness is Mr. Richard E.
Snyder, who is presently first secretary in the American Embassy in
Tokyo, Japan, and was second secretary and consul, American Embassy,
Moscow, U.S.S.R., in 1959, and remained in that post in Moscow through
at least the middle of 1961.
Mr. Snyder will be asked to testify concerning Lee Harvey Oswald's
actions when he came into the American Embassy in Moscow on October 31,
1959, and stated that he desired to renounce his U.S. citizenship, the
actions which the Embassy took at that time, and the information which
it gave to the State Department.
Mr. Snyder also handled the interview of Oswald when he appeared at the
Embassy in July of 1961, and had his passport returned to him, and will
be asked to testify about the return of the passport.
Mr. Snyder will also be asked to identify for the record the various
Embassy dispatches and State Department instructions which were
exchanged concerning Oswald in 1959, 1960, and to the middle of 1961.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Snyder, it is customary for us to read a statement of
that kind to the witness, so you will be apprised of what we are going
to interview you about.
Will you please rise and raise your right hand and be sworn?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give before
this Commission shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God?
Mr. SNYDER. I do, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You may be seated.
Mr. Coleman will conduct the examination.
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Snyder, will you state your name for the record.
Mr. SNYDER. Richard Edward Snyder.
Mr. COLEMAN. And what is your present address?
Mr. SNYDER. 118 Geary Drive, South Plainfield, N.J.
Mr. COLEMAN. Are you presently employed by the Federal Government?
Mr. SNYDER. Yes, sir.
Mr. COLEMAN. In what capacity?
Mr. SNYDER. As a Foreign Service officer of the Department of State.
Mr. COLEMAN. Where are you presently stationed?
Mr. SNYDER. In Tokyo, American Embassy.
Mr. COLEMAN. Directing your attention to the fall of 1959, were you
employed by the Federal Government at that time?
Mr. SNYDER. Yes, sir.
Mr. COLEMAN. Where were you stationed?
Mr. SNYDER. At the Embassy in Moscow.
Mr. COLEMAN. What was your title?
Mr. SNYDER. Second secretary and consul, sir.
Mr. COLEMAN. I take it that you have had called to your attention a
copy of the joint resolution which was adopted by Congress with respect
to the Commission.
Mr. SNYDER. Yes, sir.
Mr. COLEMAN. And I also take it that since you have been back in the
country that you have had an opportunity to look at the various State
Department files dealing with Oswald.
Mr. SNYDER. Yes, sir.