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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. V - Page 296« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Richard Edward Snyder Resumed)

Mr. Snyder.
No; as a matter of fact, most do. Most that are in Moscow do stop in.
Mr. Dulles.
There is a book in the Embassy that they can come in and sign?
Mr. Snyder.
Yes.
Mr. Dulles.
Oswald did not sign in the book, I gather.
Mr. Snyder.
I don't think he would; no. There would be no need for him to. He came into the Embassy and spoke to an officer, which is a higher form of registration in a sense.
Mr. Dulles.
For the record, how long was it after his arrival in Moscow that he reported to the Embassy?
Mr. Coleman.
He arrived on October 16, and he didn't go into the Embassy until October 31.
Mr. Dulles.
That was about the time has visa-his permission to stay was going to expire?
Mr. Coleman.
His permission to stay as designated on his visa had already expired.
Mr. Dulles.
Was that a 12-day?
Mr. Coleman.
He was in the Soviet Union 15 days before he went to the American Embassy.
Mr. Dulles.
How long was his permit good for?
Mr. Coleman.
His permit was good for 6 days.
Mr. Dulles.
Only 6 days? You, of course, get no word from the Soviet Union when they give visas to Americans to come into the country.
Mr. Snyder.
Oh, no, no; we get no cooperation from the Soviet authorities on anything concerning American citizens excepting in circumstances where they desire the Embassy's help. A citizen gets sick while he is traveling in the Soviet Union, and they want the Embassy assistance in some way or other. But even in such cases, surprisingly often, we do not hear from the Soviet authorities. We hear from the traveler himself, somehow, but not from the authorities.
Mr. Dulles.
Am I correct in my understanding that the State Department, having issued a valid passport for travel abroad, had no way of knowing whether the owner of that passport is going to the Soviet Union or not?
Mr. Snyder.
Well, no.
Mr. Dulles.
They have no way of knowing? So they have no way of informing you about it?
Mr. Snyder.
No.
Mr. Dulles.
I think there is a misunderstanding by a great many American people that there are certain countries that are named on the passport, which at one time I think was the case, but no longer is. As I recall it now an American passport was only stamped "Not good for Hungary," as I believe Oswald's passport was stamped. That has been changed,, has it not.
Mr. Snyder.
These stamps are changed a little from time to time.
Mr. Dulles.
I will ask Mr. Chayes that question.
Mr. Snyder.
Hungary, North Korea, North Vietnam, and China----
Mr. Coleman.
Now Cuba.
Mr. Dulles.
Could I see that passport for a moment? I think at this particular time this passport was issued, I thought the only stamp was Hungary.
Mr. Snyder.
I think there must have been others, and Hungary was added after 1946.
Mr. Dulles.
I will just read this.
"This passport is not valid for travel to the following areas under the control of authorities with which the United States does not have diplomatic relations: Albania, Bulgaria, and those portions of China, Korea, and Vietnam under Communist control."
Now, that speaks as of--this is a printed notice in the passport, and that speaks as of the date of issue of the passport, September 10, 1959. And then there is a stamp--I guess that is printed on the passport--also printed, in a special box, "This .passport is not valid for travel in Hungary."
Mr. Chayes.
And then that is superimposed with a void stamp when we took Hungary off the list of restricted areas.
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