Interview:. HW 53060 G. G. Cornwell Duran Cornwell — Duran — Cornwell Duran Cornwell - Duran Cornwell Duran . ‘Cornwell Duran | Cornwell Duran Ruben Duran Navarro . ~ - 17 Do you recall any employee of the Consulate ‘ever being at those parties? No. Do you know | General Flores? Yes, he was my client, he was omy friend “- and I did a lot of work for him. What kind of work? Designing, he used to own a hotel in . Iguna and I make designs for him.. He has a house in.Cinada and I did designs for him since he was building a city. in : Encinada and Iguana and we were doing some _ work with him, plans and designs of motels, “ things like that. we Was he also a social acquaintance? A What? Also on a social basis? Yes, he was very nice with’ my family ana he used to go to my house once and a while ? Did he ever come to the parties? No, not to the parties, he was older too. r assume that the event--the assassination, the lives of you and your family, correct? ‘the arrest--was a rather significant thing in It wasn't significant per se, it was something different and strange and relevant, but nothing DoclId: 32271403 Page 19
HW 53060 G. 2 Ge Ed G. R. G. R.  G. “.Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro oe es 18 Cornwell Duran _ Cornwell Duran. | Lopez. Cornwell | Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell DoclId: 32271403 01S relevent. : The only reason I asked the question is, when. a rather significant event happens, and especially if the event is also portrayed in the newspapers, «© it's usual that for a long period of time thereafter people will come to the person who experienced the event and talk to them about — it,: correct? | . : Yes. over the years since the assassination, has anyone ever come to you and profess to know anything about Oswald and his trip to Mexico - City? - : No, they look for us, I think £rom the Black Magazine once, but we have--we don't want to talk. to nobody and they told us in the —? Spanish ot os abo nics The police told them not to make any comments ‘But has any of the people I-haveé asked you about for instance ever mentioned to you that they saw Oswald while he was here? : No. : Have they ever professed to have any information ~ about his trip to Mexico City? oo : No. -Do you have any reason to suspect that if we oe Page 270
R. Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro Duran © 'G. Cornwell _R. Duran G. Cornwell R. Duran G. Cornwell R. Duran G. Cornwell R. Duran _ 48 oe se oe to any of these people, they would have information of help to us? Jt don't know what people, if you tell me . but I don' t know. All of the people I just asked you about ‘that you dia know, Ellena, Ellinisa, DeBake General Forbes. Any of those? No, no. I don't know. deBake an Ellena. I don't think so. I think that Ellena at ‘that time was a little girl. I'm not sure if she had returned yet, but I. saw her 2 | Fe saw her in 1962, she “was married to Octavio Paz and I was in Paris for twenty-four hours and there I went to visit her. I have to find her address through _. the Embassy . She is the only person I knew in - ‘Paris. | We went out together with her daughter _ and ‘she showed me a few things about Paris, a -< few places in Paris for the few hours that Ir. had ‘there--spent there. But this was prior to the assassination? sulyr 1962. Have you seen or talked to her since then? “No. Do you know Ricardo Guerro? - Ricardo Guerra? I know he is a professor and © DoclId: 32271403 va ae nn a . = = 19 . Page ?1
HW 53060 Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro Oo 20 q ee 6-67 G. oR. Cornwell Duran Cornwell ‘Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell | Duran. Cornwell Duran a friend of my brothersin the University. Were you and he on a social basis? No. Did he ever come to any of the parties at. your home or Horatio's? ~ No. ‘He wasn't my friend, rt just know him. ‘Have you ever traveled outside of Mexico, other than the Paris trip? | Yes. | With who and when? . I make a trip to Europe in 1962 with Clark Flores, he met us over there, my cousin 2 - | _ and another family of Port ? we went to Europe in. 1952. ‘We went to. amsterdam and then we fly : to. Cuba and we went with--Black Forest invite -us to.go to Moscow because it was a /feanion of<the ‘Olympic committee. . visiting us, she was very excited and she wanted You went to Moscow for a reunion of the Olympic Committee. Yes I was going to Europe and he told me you would like to go to Russia because. I am going there and I invite you over there. So, he fixed our papers and then our cousin, she was to go to, and then this friend of mine he DoclId: 32271403 Page 2?
Ge C Sg Re G. HW 53060 jou Teeter ana rin co Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro | a, Se 21 Cornwell . Duran > Cornwell Duran ~ Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran DoclId: 32271403 cones At nance neta namie tay natn re nna nia cnat amen eee cineew neem nent eaannaemnncthenstie STAN NR aie eee oleae Stennett nals canween nent acess OLS wants to go too. The three together, we stayed > three in Los ? and two days in the ? and two days in the La Grado and then we went to 2?) | . ? Denmark, the ? . Germany, then we went to Austria it was a trip all over, then Spain and then across Paris on - the 20 Have you ever been to Cuba? Yes, I went to Cuba in 1961. I went to ? In St. Peter, Florida and I fly threw thru - Cuba to Miami and I stayed one day in Cuba "because I had never been there, in Havanna. Did you or Horatio or Silvia have any “friends” living in Cuba? | Well, my brother was invited. with my--he went with Silvia--I do not know if he went - rs or he went together. ‘I remember at one time’ they went. for one week and was invited to Mrs, Shoo. 3 When was that? —_—- I don't remember exactly but it was around-- r can not tell exactly that time, it was probably after 1966. | : E don't understand, Who invited them to Cuba? ae really don't know who invited them. & don't remember either if my brother went with Silvia Page 23 061% 0
HW 53060 G. Cornwell R. Duran  G. Cornwell R. Duran Interview: Ruban Duran Navarro © 7 oe oo 22 ec i i or ‘if he went alone. I .dont remember what. ‘I have two books of photographs that I would like for you to look at and simply tell us if you can recognize any of the people. The first book which we will simply desctibe as a book that says on the outside Photo Ident. _ Book and has basically 3x5 photographs in it, and a second book which has smaller pictures in it and is labeled JFK document #7549. ‘While you take a few moments to look through that well turn the recorders off and give you time to look through the books. = You have now had almost ten minutes to look through the two photo books and would you ‘tell us what, if anyone or whom you recognize in _ the two books. we The only one is Mr. Lopez. So in the book which had the larger pictures you recognized no one and in the book which © is labeled Exhibit 7549, you had pointed to photos number 26 and 27 and identified that aS a man named Ernesto Lafell, and where do you know him from? He was--he took a sign when my brother was: teaching in 2 He was a student of my brother's for a while DoclId: 32271403 Page 24
a HW 53060 G “Interview: Ed Ed | R. - Cornwell Duran Lopez ' Duran Lopez - Duran - Cornwell” Duran “cornwell Duran ’ Cornwell Duran DoclId: 32271403 Ruban Duran Navarro Oo oe 23 teachs: classes at the University. in Mexico. and then he went on his own. Do you know where he is now? I don' t know where he lives now but he He is a professor? Yes... My brother would know where he is.” Were you aware of an allegation that was made by the Mexican authorities when “they questioned Horatio and Silvia, that silvia and Lee Harvey Oswald, while he was here, were lovers? | No. Based on everything that you have heard over the years and your knowledge of the relationship between Horatio and Silvia, ~ and the knowledge of Silvia, would. you think that there was a possibility that that. allegation was ‘true? No. I don't think that's not possible. Have you ever worked for any intelligence agency of any country, including our own? No. Do you know whether or not Horatio or Silvia ever had. Horatio, he worked--he was in the police force in 1949 in the political agency--the Justice er a kenre aeete aria eeu ymarirren aca ymenen Page 25
" . Interview: G. R. Ge Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran . Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran © Cornwell Duran ‘Ruban Duran Navarro a 240 obs Department. The job was ? That was I think in 1947 or something like that. And is that the only relationship that you “know of of any member of your family? My family yes. My sister worked in the intelligence committee in Florida. Tom Flores found her a job there and she is still working there. When did you first learn that we would come talk to you? When my friend | Poe ‘located sus and finally told us what it was all about. ° And approximately when was that? About a week ago. Since that time have you taken the opportunity to discuss the events that we have asked you about with any other person? Have you. gone over them with Horatio or Silvia or anyone else? Well, yes, I told my wife,. when Silvia, that day you were here, I give her a lift to her mother's house and she told. me something of what happened, you know. Some of the questions that were asked? No, not the questions, she was telling me ‘things. that I didn't know, not even when this. HW 53060 DBocld:32271403 Page 276
—_ ° .-Interview: Ruban Duran Navarro — Po 25 C OG, HW 53060 R. oR. CG. R. G. Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran — Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell DoclId: 32271403 happened. Like, more, she reminded many things that happened that I forget about. - Like all the problems they have with the Cuban government. Silvia told you about some of the problems ‘that she had had with the Cuban government? No, she was telling me because she said she wanted to write a book about this,. Poe so she was telling me things like that so I tell her that I can tell them’" Well, I. ? out of this book, you know? The reason that I asked the question is and sc Maybe you can just help us with this, I would like to know whether any part of what you said today is not your independent recollection, ~ but rather is based on something which has been said to you by Horatio or Silvia? No. ‘It's all your independent recollection? Yes it is. In the conversations during the last week or so, did you learn anything new about the -.contacts between Silvia and Lee Harvey Oswald? No. Did you learn anything which you have not told us here today? Page 2?7
. G. a, R. G. HW 53060 RL Interview:. ‘Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell ‘Duran . ‘Cornwell ” Duran . ‘Cornwell Duran Ruban Duran Navarro oe ‘No, * Your agreement to talk to us and to you have. 26 OCS 3 No. Is there anything else that you know about the matters that we have asked you about that you: have not told us? No. Is there any person who has ever professed to have information about these events | which you could suggest to us that we could talk to. I don't think so. Do you know Erneso Odio? No. let us record your statements, was that completely ~yoluntary? Yes, completely. Is that any part of it that you have felt uneasy about talking about,: or. “any area “that you have not provided any information It is curiosity. Docld: 32271403 Page 235
R. G. G. “Oo ao. Duran Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell Duran Cornwell - "Interview: Ruban Duran Navarro . , 27 Yo: | oct | G. Cornwell 2 He HW 53060 DBocld:32271403 Side Two It is all a good part of curiosity. First, .we want to know. Second, we were ‘also very curious. or.were you, well, no, have never been very interested. . The only time I was interested in politics was when I went to the American Army and perhaps you know that I serve in the American Army a a as a paratrooper because I was born in Los Angeles. So, I hate Nazi's. So they never called me because they lost my track because I was born in Los Angeles and I lived here since I was six years old and then I went to the. | American Embassy and I became volunteer to the American Army. They never called me and during that time I didn't have anything to do, I had 7 left school and everything so I-say if they don't “call me Igo back myself so I went to Los Angeles. Let me see if I understand you. You were born in Los Angeles? | oO 7 7 Yes. When you were about six years old you moved to Mexico. Yes, during the Depression about 1924 or 1930 or 31. What was the date of your birth again? Page 29
r . — -.. Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro OB a ~ 28 Dea Oos & ‘@ oR. Duran ¢ 1924. G. Cornwell And then when World War II started, you went to volunteer or what? Army beginning in°1944... G. Cornwell And where did you serve? R. Duran Well, they never sent me overseas. The reason they did not-is my English. I took my basic training in Portia, Oklahoma and then I became volunteer for the paratroopers and then I went to ? , Gerogia and then I get into the 82th Airborne Division, American's guard of honor and we paraded in Washington once. After that I--when the war was over, I enlisted for one more year to see if I could learn more , | English and then I work for--my one year in the States I went to school in Los Angeles, the ? Art Institute. Then T worked oe ; painting refrigeratorsand frigedars in Dayton, | Ohio and then I went to Chicago to do a sketching oe in the art department in Chicago in the meat house of Sears and Roebuck and well I did many _ works like that. I came back to Mexico and then I “came: as a veteran and the government of the . United States paid me three and a half years of la GI. bills here in Mexico and I went to art school here too. COTTER a Tr es camp aetna ae SCC RTE Reve ot ee CA «PRM POTS NY ACEH IE Titers oy perreemecrenm resets Settee cence tee HW 53080 DocId: 32271403 Page 30
" tnterview: Ruben Duran Navarro - 29 Obee G. Cornwell : Have you ever been a member of any political party? No We understand. that. perhaps Horatio and’ silvia were very much in favor of ‘the Cuban “Revolution oe during the early 1960' Ss, were you? | oe ‘R. Duran : Well, I believe in--I believe that-— ay “have seen ? for them. I . don" t believe nothing, because I really don't know much I have seen ra | - during that _ time. Because Bastista, everybody used ta 2 Bastista during that time. : C ' G. Cornwell : What were your views of President Kennedy? | CR. Duran : Well, I like him very much, I like his face 7 and I was not here when he came to Mexico, during | that time I was in Europe. They make him a. 3 -beautiful--they told me they make him a beautiful reception here in Mexico, but I had. sympathy for him and I like him because he was young and as he--I like him. | G. Cornwell : How did Silvia and Horatio: feel towards him? R. Duran : I think they feel the same way. D. Hardway : I just have a couple questions I would like to 7] ask you. You mentioned that the second time ; Silvia was detained it was to protect her. HW 53060 DBocld:32271403 Page 31
- Interview: Ruben Duran Navarro 30 an Co _R. Duran. : Yes. D. Hardway : How do you know it was to protect her? ‘R. Duran —:.: They.told me. I took her her TV and . ‘something happen it would ‘complicate everything, it would complicate the Mexican government. | 7 | D. Hardway : bid they tell you who they were protecting her from? “R. Duran © : No, I guess anyone. I belives that during that time with what happened with Oswald and everything and the Mexican government or C . Mexican police were afraid if something happen to. her and everything was very complicated so they protected her for three or four days, I- don't know. 7 ae D. Hardway : Did she ever mention to you that she had told Oswald that there was any other way to. get a Visa to Cuba other: than ‘the entransit visa? R. Duran No, I don't know that because I don't know an the procedure. D. Hardway ‘Did she ever mention to you that. she had told him of other ways? R. Duran : No. D. Hardway we When was the last time you saw Elena Grererro? cr R. Duran: In France of 1962. — a nn eee nn en nn SE eR SPORE AR TN ER 2.2 MERUADSTE PR EE it te gg aber eee mmm, REP es eae Tener yen a serene ace oi 5 oenareneae HW 53060 DBocld:32271403 Page 32
Ruben Duran Navarro a oe . 31 Interview: You have not seen her since then? I don't even know if she is still alive because Somebody said died. G. Cornwell 1 on: te see “her ‘since 2 eee Have you ever talked to anyone who said “they had talked to Elena: about oswala. No, I contacted way. ? lived some other place and went away, her brothezs, her sister. ‘one sister lives in Spain, her mother - used to live in Guy? oo she died ? | . << never saw her anymore. After that I never saw anyone of them. I guess’ there are no: further questions, we thank you very much for taking the time to "speak to us. Oh, that's all right, any time. DoclId: 32271403 SLE ETE RE ETE EE ER oe RTT IPO NP RRR TEP ER SM AN RPE OEE he OP Page 33