Mr. Seeley.

It was the transmittal from INR of the Department transmitting a secret--well, I know what it is, a CIA document, telegram, to the Passport Office.

Mr. Coleman.

Can you recall what the CIA telegram said?

Mr. Seeley.

The telegram said in effect that Lee Oswald had appeared or had contacted, I believe was the word, the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City in October 1963.

Mr. Coleman.

Now, did the telegram also indicate that Oswald was the person who in 1959 had attempted to defect?

Mr. Seeley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

Now, when you got the telegram on your desk, did you also get the file with it?

Mr. Seeley.

Yes, sir; the passport file.

Mr. Coleman.

That came to you at the same time, or did you get the telegram and then send for the file?

Mr. Seeley.

I had the whole thing. I am morally certain on this, that I had the whole file. I can tell by the reconstruction on this. Mr. Ritchie and myself have discussed this. We are both sure how this went about. Do you want me to give this reconstruction?

Mr. Coleman.

You can, if you wish to; yes.

Mr. Seeley.

I notice that there was a little note. "Mr. Anderson pull previous." "Previous" means to pull the file, whatever file there is. This was on October 17. The file .was pulled according to our records in our office on October 17 or 18, I forget the exact date. It was within a day or so thereafter this. And I presume that this was first reviewed by Mr. Ritchie and then reviewed by myself.

Mr. Coleman.

When you pulled the file which is the State Department file X--

Mr. Seeley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Coleman.

Did you send for the security file?

Mr. Seeley.

No, sir; I did not.

Mr. Coleman.

Why wouldn't you send for the security file if you get a telegram from a security agency saying that the gentleman who was down at the Russian Embassy in Mexico City is the same guy who in 1959 attempted to defect?

Mr. Seeley.

I looked at this report strictly from a passport office point of view. The significance which, of course, might have great intelligence significance, had little or no significance insofar as any action that we would take in the Passport Office is concerned.

Mr. Coleman.

Why would that be, sir?

Mr. Seeley.

Well, we have to have some basis under our regulations to take any action.

Mr. Coleman.

I mean why, if you get information which you can immediately realize may have intelligence significance, why wouldn't you look at it from a point of view of intelligence?

Mr. Seeley.

Well, I am working for the Passport Office. Certainly, if I saw something that I could do something about, I would take whatever action I thought was necessary.

Mr. Coleman.

Why didn't you, for example, write a letter to the FBI saying that this, fellow is down in Mexico City, are you interested, or do you want to see the file?

Mr. Seeley.

Well, I would say the probability is that a copy of this was apparently furnished to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Coleman.

And you noted that, I take it, at the time of reviewing the file?

Mr. Seeley.

I have no independent recollection that I did.

Mr. Coleman.

But the fair assumption is that you did?

Mr. Seeley.

I would assume that.

Mr. Coleman.

I take it that is also the reason why you didn't notify the CIA, because the telegram had come from the CIA?