Classification: ig 1 (This form is to be used for material extracted ; ; f from ClA—controlled documents.) if a longer stay were intended at least one week was needed to process a visa application and arrange lodging through ; Soviet Intourist. A second communciation from Helms to. Rankin, dated September 14, 1964, added that during the 1964 tourist season, Soviet Consulates in at least some Western European cities issued Soviet tourist visas in from five to seven days. In an effort to resolve this issue, the Committee has ‘ reviewed the CIA file on Gregory Golub, who was the Soviet Consul in Helsinki when Oswald was issued his tourist visa. Golub's file reveals that, in addition to his Consular Sait CRA aDRRINMPRR Operetta ge my oh OE activities, he was suspected to have been an officer Two CIA dispatches from Helsinki concerning Golub are of particular significance with regard to the time Classification: ‘ of the Soviet KGB. ( | Classified by derivation: —— /- Fo CERI tn Reterrerereeaigem estoy ee fei Senge earner AA ene wt" enh Ee rn AS 8
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) necessary for issuance of.visas to Americans for travel into the Soviet Union. The first dispatch records that Golub disclosed during a luncheon conversation that: EA “GA ~“R A Moscow had given him the authority to give Americans visas without prior approval from Moscow. He (Golub) stated that this would make his job much easier, and as long as he was convinced the American was "all right" he could give him a visa in a matter of minutes... (emphasis added) The second CIA dispatch, dated October 9, 1959, one day prior to Oswald's arrival in Helsinki, illustrates that Golub did have the authority to issue visas without delay. The dispatch discusses a telephone contact between Golub Helsinki: and his consular counterpart at the American Embassy in f Classification: | | Classified by derivation: Mk LL LF I LF LT
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from CliA—controlled documents.) ...Since that evening (September 4, 1959) Golub has only phoned (the US consul) once and this was on a business matter. Two Americans were in the Soviet Consulate at the time and were applying for Soviet visas thru (sic.) Golub. They had previously been in the American consulate inquiring about the possibility of obtaining a Soviet visa in one or two days. (The U.S. Consul) advised them to go directly to Golub and make their request, which they did. Golub phoned (the U.S. Consul) to state that he would give them their visas as soon as they made advance Intourist reservations. When they did this, Golub immediately gave them their visas...* (emphasis added) ¢ f p Thus, based upon these two factors: (1) Golub's authority to issue visas to Americans without prior approval from Moscow, and (2) a demonstration of this authority, as reported in a CIA dispatch approximately one month prior to Oswald's appearance at the Soviet Embassy, the Committee has found that the available evidence tends to support the conclusion that issuance of Oswald's -tourist visa within because upon his arrival at the Moscow railroad station on October 16, he was met by an Intourist representative and taken to the Hotel Berlin where he registered as a student. _/ *Evidently, Oswald had made arrangements with Intourist - f Classification: i | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) two days after his appearance at the Soviet Consulate was not necessarily unusual. 10. The Oswald Photograph in the Office of Naval 2 . Gn Wa “A “EAA. Intelligence Files The Office of Naval Intelligence's Lee Harvey Oswald file contained a photograph of Oswald, taken at the approximate time of his Marine Corps induction, that was contained in an envelope which had on it the language "REC'D 14 November 1963" and "CIA 77978." These markings raised the possibility that Oswald had been in some way In response to a Committee inquiry, the Department of Defense stated that the photograph had been obtained by ONI as a result of a CIA request for two copies of the most recent photographs of Oswald so that an attempt could be made associated with the CIA. —~ ( Clessification: | Classified by derivation:
Classification: | (This form is to be used for material extracted . . ¢ from ClA—controlled documents.) to verify his reported presence in Mexico City. The requested copies, however, were not made available to the CIA until after the President's assassination. Because of the absence of documentation, no explanation was given for how or when the Office of Naval Intelligence received this particular photograph of Oswald. The Committee's review of CIA cable traffic confirmed that cable number 77978, dated October 24, 1963, was in fact a request for two copies of the Department of the Navy's most recent photograph of Lee Henry (sic) Oswald. Moreover, review of other cable traffic corroborated the Agency's desire to determine whether Lee Harvey Oswald had, in fact, been Classification: in Mexico City. ce ‘ | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted ; f from ClA—controlled documents.) ll. Lee Harvey Oswald in Mexico City The Committee also considered whether Oswald's activities ; and possible associations in Mexico City were indicative of a relationship between him and the CIA. This aspect of the Committee's investigation involved a complete review both of alleged Oswald associates and of various CIA operations outside of the United States. The Committee found no evidence suggestive of any relationship between Oswald and the CIA. Moreover, the Agency's investigative efforts, prior to the assassination, regarding Oswald's presence in Mexico City served to confirm the absence of. any relationship with him. Specifically, when apprised of his possible presence in Mexico City, the Agency both initiated internal inquiries concerning his background and, once informed of his Soviet experience, notified other Classification: —_ a. GE. | Classified by derivation: aN A ee
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlied documents.) potentially interested federal agencies of his possible contact with the Soviet embassy in Mexico City. Finally, the overt nature and frequency of Oswald's contacts with the Cuban and Soviet Consulates (i.e., a total of at least five visits) also tended to indicate that Oswald was not under the direction of any professional intelligence officers. 12. Lee Harvey Oswald's Military Records The Committee reviewed Oswald's military records because of allegations that he had received intelligence training f and had participated in intelligence operations during his term of service. Particular attention was given to the charges that Oswald's early discharge from the Marine Corps was designed to serve as a cover for an intelligence assignment and that his records reflected neither his true security clearance nor a substantial period of service in Taiwan. These allegations were considered relevant to the Classification: = Gra GA GFR | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted ; 6 from ClA—controlled documents.) question of whether Oswald had been performing intelligence assignments for military. intelligence as well as to the issue of Oswald's possible association with the CIA. Oswald's Marine Corps records bore no indication that he had ever received any intelligence training or performed on any intelligence assignments during his term of service. As a Marine sering in Atsugi, Japan, Oswald had a security clearance of confidential and never received a higher classifi- cation. Based upon the Warren Commission testimony of John E. Donavan, the officer who had been in charge of Oswald's required to have a minimum security clearance of secret, the ‘ allegation has been made that the security clearance of confidential in Oswald's records is inaccurate. This allegation, however, was refuted by a review of files belonging Classification: crew, that all personnel working in the radar center were ( | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) to four enlisted men who had worked with Oswald; each of them had a security clearance of confidential.* Oswald's military records also dispelled the allegation that he had served for a substantial period in Taiwan. These records state that Oswald served in Japan from September 12, 1957 until November 2, 1958. Department of Defense records, however, do indicate that MAG (Marine Air Group) 1l, Oswald's unit, was deployed for Taiwan on September 16, 1958 and remained in that area until April 1959, but an examination of the MAG 1l unit diaries indicated that Oswald had remained in Japan as part of a rear echelon. Oswald's records also state that on ( October 6, 1958 he was transferred within MAG 11 to a \ Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron subunit in Atsugi, *John E. Donavan, Oswald's immediate commanding officer, did have a security clearance of secret. Classification: Japan. The next week he reportedly spent in the Atsugi ( | Classified by derivation:
Classification: (This form is to be used for material extracted from ClA—controlled documents.) Station Hospital. On November 2, 1958, Oswald left Japan for duty in the United States. Accordingly, there is no indication in Oswald's military records that he had spent any time in Taiwan. This ¢ f f finding is contrary to that of the Warren Commission that Oswald arrived with his unit in Taiwan on September 30, 1958,  / but the Commission's analysis apparently was made without access to the unit diaries of MAG 11.* ¢ Finally, with one exception, the circumstances surrounding Oswald's rapid discharge from the military do not appear to have been unusual. Oswald was obligated to service on active duty until December 7, 1959, but he applied for a hardship discharge on August 17, 1958 and two weeks later the application *Similarly, a message sent on November. 4, 1959 from the Chief of Naval Operations concerning Oswald, which states that he had “served with Marine Air Control Squadrons in Japan and Taiwan" may have been issued without checking unit diaries which indicated that Oswald had not been so deployed. Classification: Vo “a “Ela | Classified by derivation: nN a o Daa aw wT.