Mr. COLEMAN. Subject to check, it was a Saturday.
Mr. SNYDER. "Oswald intends to institute an application for an exit
visa immediately upon his return to Minsk within the next few days. His
American passport was returned to him for this purpose after having
been amended to be valid for direct travel--for direct return to the
United States only."
Mr. COLEMAN. In that same Foreign Service Despatch you indicated at the
end that you were sending to the Passport Office in Washington the
application for renewal, isn't that correct?
Mr. SNYDER. Yes; that is right.
Representative FORD. May I ask Mr. Snyder--on Commission Exhibit No.
938, where Oswald said, "I have been naturalized as a citizen of a
foreign state," and so forth--if that was the only statement that was
made, what effect would that have had on his application either for a
renewal or a new passport?
Mr. SNYDER. Well, it would have the effect of flagging the consular
officer to ask some questions, Mr. Ford.
Representative FORD. Would it have automatically disqualified him for
renewal or the issuance of a new passport?
Mr. SNYDER. No, sir.
Representative FORD. Not under the law or the regulations?
Mr. SNYDER. Not to the best of my knowledge. In other words, what
he says, to my knowledge, is immaterial to a finding of his loss of
nationality. It is the act which counts.
Mr. COLEMAN. I don't think that is quite the Congressman's question.
His question is if he had actually naturalized himself, could he be
entitled to get an American passport?
Mr. SNYDER. Oh, no; of course, if he had committed the act of accepting
naturalization in a foreign state, he could not have. He would have
lost his American citizenship.
Representative FORD. But limiting your knowledge to what he said in
this paragraph, this in and of itself would have precluded either the
issuance of a new passport or renewal?
Mr. SNYDER. No; I don't think we can say that, Mr. Ford, because no
matter what he says in there, this does not affect his right--does not
affect his American citizenship. It is the determination of facts which
determines it. And the only thing this does, really--well, the first
thing it does is to alert the consular officer to start asking him some
questions.
The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, I have a call from the Court. I must go over
there now. We have the Court conference at 2 o'clock. Will someone be
here to preside at 2 o'clock?
Representative FORD. Mr. Chairman, I have to leave, too. We have a
quorum call over on the floor of the House. I can be back at 2. But I
do have to leave at the present time.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you be back at 2 to preside until I return from the
Court?
Representative FORD. I would be very glad to, Mr. Chairman.
Senator COOPER. Mr. Chairman, I will be able to be here part of the
time this afternoon. But we are voting this afternoon. I don't know
exactly what time.
Mr. DULLES. I will be here at 2:30, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. All right, fine.
Representative FORD. May I ask how much longer you intend to go on?
Mr. COLEMAN. I think I can finish in about 4 minutes with Mr. Snyder.
Representative FORD. Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)
Representative FORD. Back on the record.
We will recess now until 2 o'clock.
(Whereupon, at 12:25 p.m., the President's Commission recessed.)