I have shown you, and I take it you are generally familiar with, the resolution of Congress which was adopted by Congress in connection with this Commission.
Miss JAMES. Yes.

Mr. Coleman.

To the best of your present knowledge, Miss James, could you tell me the first time you heard the name Oswald?
Miss JAMES. When I read a copy of the telegram from the American Embassy at Moscow, dated, as I recall, October 30, 1959, saying that Oswald had called at the Embassy and had attempted to renounce his American citizenship.

Mr. Coleman.

Would you accept my suggestion if I told you that that telegram was dated October 31 rather than the 30th?
Miss JAMES. Yes.

Mr. Coleman.

Why did you receive, obtain or see a copy of the telegram?
Miss JAMES. To begin with, it is my function in the Department of State in the Office of Soviet Union Affairs, to handle matters relating to visas, issuance of visas and passport matters from the political angle only.

Mr. Coleman.

For what area?
Miss JAMES. For the Office of Soviet Union Affairs, and it is part of our responsibility to know what goes on in the American Embassy in Moscow, and to see how it is handled in order that we can continue our function of advising, helping and assisting so it is routine for our office to get a copy of all these telegrams. Practically every telegram that goes back and forth between the Embassy in Moscow and the Department, both ways, comes through our office.

Mr. Coleman.

What did you do after you received the telegram, or saw' a copy of the telegram?
Miss JAMES. I think we took no action at that time. We read it with a great deal of interest, as we do all of this type of case of a potential defector, and a person who is an American citizen who is renouncing American citizenship is very unusual. I don't recall any action except that I know it was a source, I mean the subject of unhappy conversation in the office, to see this man carrying on this type of action.

Mr. Coleman.

You knew, didn't you, that within 2 or 3 days after the telegram was received, that the State Department sent a reply to the Embassy?
Miss JAMES. I must have seen it. I notice from the file copy I cleared it, but I don't remember that exact telegram.

Mr. Coleman.

I show you Commission Exhibit No. 916, which is a copy of the telegram.
Miss JAMES. I recall this.

Mr. Coleman.

You do recall it?
Miss JAMES. I do.

Mr. Coleman.

Do you recall clearing the text of it?
Miss JAMES. I can't recall clearing the text of it, but I am perfectly sure that it was a natural thing for me to clear the text.

Mr. Coleman.

They normally would clear it with your office?
Miss JAMES. Yes.

Mr. Coleman.

And so, therefore, when it is recorded in the lower left-hand corner that it had been cleared with you, you have no doubt of the accuracy of that statement?
Miss JAMES. I have no reason to doubt.

Mr. Coleman.

The accuracy of that statement?
Miss JAMES. Because we, the Office of Soviet Union Affairs, try to get all offices in the Department to clear everything that is going to Moscow.

Mr. Coleman.

After clearing the telegram, what was the next time that you had anything to do with the name Oswald, to the best of your knowledge?
Miss JAMES. As I recall, we had a copy of the report that came in from the Embassy telling more in detail about his appearance at the Embassy, and I also read it in the Washington papers.

Mr. Coleman.

Could we mark as James Exhibit No. 1, and I show you--a reference sheet from Bernice Waterman to EE:SOV, Virginia James, under date of November 25, 1959, and I ask you do you remember seeing that reference sheet?

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