United States Department of State - ~ Washington, D.C. 20520 April 8, 1997 David Marwell Executive Director Assassination Records Review Board 600 E Street, NW 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20530 pis “ASSASSIN SLT TON B | 1 REMI gE BORDS Dear Mr. Marwell: Enclosed is the diplomatic note received from the Mexican 7 _ government, dated March 12, 1997, which responds to the ARRB/s request for any additional documents that the Mexican government might have relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Embassy evidently submitted the request to the Mexican government on June 13, 1996, but:did not report the action through telegraphic channels. The reference in the telegram is to our recent query. The Mexican government note conveys copies of the diplomatic notes. exchanged between Mexico and the United States in 1963-1964 regarding the initial U.S. request for Mexican documents relevant to the investigation into Lee Harvey . Oswald’s visit to Mexico in the fall of 1963. Most of these notes were published in volume XVIII of the Warren Commission Report. They also duplicate copies of the same correspondence found in Legal Adviser’s and Mexico City post files that are included in State’s collection at NARA. I have stamped enclosed copies of pages bearing "confidential" classification markings. I am also enclosing a copy of Mexico City telegram wv 3078 of March 31. According to my records, we have now received responses from all posts contacted through the A bureau. Minsk remains ongoing. Final responses have been received from Bonn, Paris, London, Moscow, and now Mexico City. Interim) responses. have been received from from Tokyo and Ottawa. As it has been some tinie since Tokyo reported that the Japanese government would be searching for documents, the ARRB might wish to prepare a followup cable. Sincerely, Nina J. Noring Department of State Liaison JFK Assassination Records Collection Act Attachments: ‘As indicated.
13-00000 SECRET Assassination Records Review Board 600 E Street NW - 2nd Floor - Washington, DC 20530 (202) 724-0088 + Fax: (202) 724-0457 September 5, 1997 BY COURIER Mr. John Pereira Director . Historical Review Group Center for the Study of Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency . Washington, DC 20505 Re: Request to CIA to-contact| |regarding LIENVOY intercepts of Oswald telephone calls in Mexico City Some time ago J the Review Board requested informally that CIA contact [lin Mexico City for information related to Lee Harvey Oswald. During your recent visit here we discussed with you the feasibility of your making such contacts. I am writing in response to your request that we memorialize our request and provide some background information. The Review Board believes that all reasonable steps should be taken to account for all telephonic intercepts of Oswald during his vigit to Mexico City in September-October 1963. There is evidence that CIA intercepted some telephone calls through an operation named LIENVOY €onducted|_ | believe that it would be appropriate for CIA to contact diredtly| | to inquire as to whether the Mexican authorities retained copies of LIENVOY telephonic take, specifically the actual recordings of Oswald's telephone calls to the Soviet Embassy during the period of September 27 through October 3, 1963. The Review Board previously has sought information from the Mexican Government through appropriate diplomatic channels. For reasons that are obvious to those familiar with Mexico City issues, the Review Board could not raise with Mexican officials nor with the U.S. State Department the possible existence of additional tape recordings that might be in the hands of certain officials. Thus, at the behest of the Review Board, the Department of State requested that the Mexican federal government and local government agencies conduct general searches of their files for records related to the assassination of President Kennedy. The Mexican government responded SECRET Soaao Memacas: John A. Tunheim, Chair « Henry F. Graff + Kermit L. Hall « William L. Joyce « Anna K. Nelson Executive Diaectoa: David G. Marwell
13-00000 SECRET Mr. John Pereira September 5, 1997 Page 2 by sending copies of the same documentation and correspondence that the GOM had made available to the Warren Commission in 1964. The basis for our interest in your contacting @ppropriate} Mexican officials'is found in CIA document 104-10004-10199, which was reviewed by the Board on September 19, 1995. On page 5 of this document (not including the cover sheet) information that the Board agreed to protect, due to the sensitivity of sources and methods involved, suggests that the Mexican security forces may have had their own copy of the October 1 intercept on Lee Harvey Oswald. It is unclear whether this statement refers to the transcript or to an actual tape containing the phone call. Nevertheless, it provides enough evidence to warrant additional inquiries on this matter. For your reference we are enclosing copies of the reference documents as well as copies of the correspondence between the DOS and the Mexican government. We would appreciate your contacting appropriate officials to determine what reasonably can be known about this and related matters, and ask that you provide a response to this request by November 14, 1997. We are fully aware of the sensitivity of this type of request and do not wish to take any action that would compromise existing intelligence operations. If necessary, we would be pleased to discuss with you ways in which we might further elaborate on this request, including person-to-person discussions with appropriate officials either here or in Mexico. ~~) Thank you for your continued assistance and cooperation. Sincerely yours, Or T. Jeremy Gunn / General Counsel and Associate Director for Research and Analysis ce: J. Barry Harrelson, HRG Enclosures SECRET
13-00000 Descriptive Name: Descriptive Type: Subject: Attachments: Blind Copy: ‘Carbon Copy: Reference: Document Number: Date Completed: Checked By: Typist: Author: CIA Request to J. Pereira Letter (Class. SECRET) CIA Request CIA Doc. 104-10004-10199, DOS correspondence Barry Harrelson Classified CLA memos a:\cia-mc.02wpd File: 4.20.4 | 9/5/97 12:00:00 AM Jeremy Gunn . Cathy Rodriguez Irene Marr
13-00000 a # _ Assassination Records Review Board Final Determination Notification AGENCY : CIA RECORD NUMBER : 104-10004-10199 RECORD SERIES : JFK AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 201~289248 OSW1O: V1OB 1993.06.14.15:36: 06: 060000 : September 19, 1995 . Status of Document: Bo Number of releases of previously postponed information: 16 Reason for Board. Action:. The Review Board's decision was premised on several factors including: (a) the significant historical interest iri fhe document in question; (b) the absence of evidence that the release of | ‘the information. would, ca 2 harin t to the United Si States or to any individual. . Number of Postponement isi a Postponement #1 Page RS): | ne Reason for Board Action: The text ii redacted because it reveals the identity ofan intelligence agent that properly may be withheld under Section 6(1)(A) of the JFK Act. The Board is awaiting additional evidence from the CIA, at which time it will reconsider the postponement. Substitute Language: See Document Date of Next Review: 12/1955 | Postponement # 2. (Page RS) . en Reason for Board Action: The text i is redacted because it reveals the identity of an intelligence agent that properly may be withheld under Section 6(1)(A) of the JFK Act. The Board is awaiting: additional.“ evidence from the CIA, at which time it will reconsider the postponement. Substitute Language: See Docusiient a . . ‘ Date of Next Review: 12/1995 . Postponement #3 (Page te Reason for Board Action The text i is redacted because it discusses sources and methods that properly may be withheld under Section 6(1)(B) of the JFK Act. ‘Substitute Language: None: The redacted information contains no substantive information about the assassination of President Kennedy or about Lee Harvey Oswald. Date of Next Review: 2017 SECRET.
13-00000 ‘Date of Nest: Review: 2017 Postponement # 4 (Page 2): Reason for Board Action: The text is redacted because it discusses sources and methods that properly may be withheld under Section 6(1)(B) of the JFK Act. Substitute Language: None: The redacted information contains no substantive information about the assassination of President Kennedy or about Lee Harvey Oswald. _ Date of Next Review: 2017 Postponement #5 (Page 5): Reason for Board Action: The text is redacted because it discusses sources and methods that propesy may be withheld under Section 6(1)(B) of the JFK Act. Substitute Language: None: The redacted information references “the 1 October intercept, on Lee Oswald" and the possible existence of another copy of that “intercept” that was discovered after the assassination. The redacted information contains no.other substantive information about the assassination of President Kennedy or about Lee Harvey Oswald. , ‘Date of Next Review: 2017 = So SES 7 a - ° . Postponement # 6 (Page 14): Reason for Board Action: The text is redacted. because it discusses sources and methods that at propely may . be withheld under Section 6(1)(B) of the JEK Act. Substitute Language: None: The redacted information contains no substantive information about the, ; assassination of President Kennedy or about Lee Harvey Oswald. Board Review‘Completed: 08/03/95
1 3-00000 VEGREIGY NTERNAL CLASSIFIED Pevceetf ase ONLY fae 69 open dre ene trndd ¢ Py 00 :. roy inulte pena eee . Aaa, by Souci Gave “= CEE fd EE age ey ‘ lab ARGUE a PL A iy cg. = room = i rt ee ety oe eres Trey oS te hoe al! 2 Rae Set SEE 5 tre er r. x py pins poise oO mea 8 $ 4 . ae, “ rae 3 te 38 a eden ene een ee aarns : oe ee af 2 : $ es. ae: at io ral Ris oleas 5: aa aed agen La ww ANAS bat oby oe INTERNAL 42,-
13-00000 and other agencies wey nave taken bared on our report. va surutee thet tne YEE may tava sade Looe) checks throush Mextoen autharition to one tf Lee OSWALD wen wotuaily in Mento City ou 1 Oeteber. tnfleed, Later iu- veatinetion hes confismed ail the detetle of bis (ety, where he stayed, axl whet he aid. fe avobd oressing Lines vith the YA, ear Mexiee Station undertook ne Léaal investigation of ita cm. Ag we now know, OOWALD Lett | but 4t apparently aluvered in their files until the acsansination took > | a merce ee ene Tre ne na eetenneennene | Unen vend of the shesting of President Kennedy reashed the offices of our operatin, dtvietons ant xtatte on the aftarneon of Friday 22 Keren bar 1963, treniotor redioe wire turned on everywhere to fallow tie torasndys Won the temo of Lee OSWALD was beard the effect wna electete, A yhone segoaze from the Fak come at about the dame time, nexting OSWALD
13-00000 awry _. ToL: 202-647-5094 P..003 ot | Hi off GH Wa om : vecerease ©, + UNCLASSIFIED OUTGOING Bean OF TELEGRAM Department of State rae Apase? tein] ane "oS sHc3a33 STATE 684217 2321062 _— $i8633 JWFO LOG-€8  ARA-B OASY-86 DIM-8B ODINT-98 DS-69 FPC-O1 lntiG-g] TEBE-68 L-a0 IAIS-@2 BScl-80 /8878 ORAFTED BY: a/ (ny | S/FPC/PPA : NPGRAFELD APPROVED BY: As PEKENNEDY ALTAZTS:EWILSOM. ASIMHGELSEL: AsIM/IS/EPC: PSHEILS ARA/NEX: DURS . wan stagerenann ane MD619 2321182 /38 R 2321677 APR 96 FIL SECSTATE-WASADE TOCAMENBASSY HEXICO UNCLAS STATE 984217 FOR THE AMBASSADOR FROR ASSISTANT SECRETARY KEHAEDY £.8, 72956: N/A TAGS; ALE SUBJECT: JOHN F. KERNEOY ASSASSINATION records” a Bese aR ES 5 oo REQUESTS TO MEXICO FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION ACT OF 1992 1. THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF -1992 (THE “ACT*) WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON OCTORER 26, 1992. - THE ACT ESTABLISMED A PROLESS FOR IDENTIFYING AND. SECURING ALL RECORDS RELATING TO THE ASSASSINATION of PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND COLLECTING THEN TH THE =~ PRESIDERT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION AT THE WATIONAL ARCHIVES IN COLLEGE PARK: AARYLAND. THE ACT ALSO ESTABLISHED THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD (ARR) TO COORDINATE AND OVERSEE THE PROCESS. THE DEPARTNENT HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ARRB 10 EXSURE FULL GOMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS AND OVER & YEAR AGO PRODUCED 17S COLLECTION FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AY THE HATICNAL ARCHIVES. 2, THERE REMAINS: HOWEVER: ONE PROVISION OF THE ACT. FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY MUST RELY ON YOUR OFFICE FoR IMPLEMENTATION, THE ACT ENVISIONED AN APPROACH TO FOREIGH GOVERNMENTS FOR ARY RECORDS THAT THEY MIGHT POSSESS. SPECIFIGALLY: SECTION 10 Chi (21° OF THE ACT: STATES THAT (7 (S THE “SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD CONTACT. .. HY] FOREIGH GOVERANENT THAT MAY HOLD URFORMATICN RELEVART 10-THE - ASSASSINATION AND SEEK DISCLOSURE OF SUCH IHFORRATION. “ ~ 2. IN TTS CONGRESSIONALLY HANDATED SEARER FoR ASSASSINATION RECORDS: THE ARRB WISHES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OR LOCAL GOVERHNENT = ~ AGENCIES IK MEXIGO MAINTAIE RECORDS THAT ARE RELATED TO. THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY. THE ARRB HOTES ~~ THAT THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY ATIRACTED - THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLOs AND THAT THE RESPONSE OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO THE EVENT WOULD 86. OF... ~ INTEREST. IN-ADDITION,. RECORDS: OF-REXICAN ‘auiion itiks . _ GONCERNING LEE"RARVEY"OSWALD'S VISIT .70.NEXICO iran : : SEPTERBER/OCTORER 1963. WoULd BE-OF -{HMENSE «| RTER , 4, WITHOUT BEING AWARE OF THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF POTENTIALLY RELEVANT MEXICAN FILES» THE ARRB CANKOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON THE APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR EXSURING A COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH. THE ARGB IS WILLING TO PROWIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED. ANY SEARCH FOR REGORDS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: ADS-88 N-O8 = OIS-8] CRYE~8 vr REXICO.C1Y. (A) BHY AND ALL RECORDS RELATED TO TRE AETIVITIES OF THE MEXICAN AUTRORITIES DESCRIBED IW THE DIPLOMATIC NOTES TO THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY 1 MEXICO CITY FROK THE MEXICAN SECRETARIAT OF FOREIGH RELATIONS Wo. 584876 DATED WAY 14+ 1964 AND HO. 508563 DATED JUNE 9) 1964, THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: =~ -oGLOSURE OF THE BORDER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GN ROVENBER 22. 1963: oDEPLOVHERT OF TROOPS THAY Same DATE “fo TIGHTEN SURVEILLANCE IH TRE BORDER AREA: ESPECIALLY AT BEYHOSA: CIUDAD MIQUEL ALERANs NUEVO LAREDO: AND HATANOROS:" AND ao TL RVESTICATION OF OSWALD’ $ TRIP 10 MEXICO CITY IW SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 1963: AND ESPECIALLY-GF HIS MEANS OF ERTERING AND EXITING MEXICO ANDAHIGuCONTACTS WITH “GILVAA.TIRADO -DURANS “AH “EIPLOVEL SDL BbaGDBAN CCRSULATE AB) “ANY ‘AKO aL poets THAT--IDERT IFFY: ERICA ASSASSIKATION AND TRE MEXICAN RESPONSES TO THOSE REQUESTS. . ; {C) ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS» STUDIES, INQUIRIES OB INVESTIGATIONS BY HEXICAN GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OF THE ASSASSINATION. TALBOTT “cr 7 +e wo mn nono eH AR RH RH RSH BRPE GER RSE EERE BS ; ;
13-00000 SECRET wa (DRAFT) CSI 1997-444 25 September 1997 MEMORANDUM FOR: | | DO/LA re ~tckham, DO/IMS FROM: John F. Pereira . Chief, CSI/HRG SUBJECT: Priority Request from Chairman, JFK Assassination Records Board 1. (8S) The purpose of this memorandum is to advise you of a priority request from the Chairman of the JFK Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB). The request concerns records related to hee Harvey Oswald that may be held by the Mexican Government. 2. (S) At his initiative, I met recently with the ARRB Chairman, Judge John Tunheim. He said the reason for the meeting was to ask that CIA assist the Board by making inquiries| to determine if the Mexican Government has certain records related to Oswald's activities in Mexico in: late 1963. __Of particular interest (tel- ap operations / including coverage ‘of Oswald's ‘telephone “Calis ‘Eo the Soviet Embassy./ He said that locating such records is “the highest priority of the Board.” (The attached letter from the. ARRB’s General Counsel explains the Board’s interest.) 3. (S) Earlier this year, the Board sought unsuccessfully to obtain information about Oswald from the Mexican Government | via the State Department. (See attached cable.) Mexico responded by providing copies of the same material that had been made available to the Warren Commission in 1964. The problem for the Board was that, in making the request to Mexico, it did not want to reveal information about that the Board knew of from CIA récords-: eing sensitive to e Agency’s request to protect this information, Tunheim would like the Agency to contact [directly] on | the Board’s behalf. a — cL By (0185904 / CL REASON-175~(b,c, &d) DECL BY X1 DRV FRM LIA 2-82
13-00000 SECRET SUBJECT: Priority Request from Chairman, JFK Assassination Records Board 4, {(FOQUO) During the meeting with Tunheim, I said that we would discuss his request with the appropriate people in the Agency. In view of the priority that Tunheim places on this matter, I recommend that our JFK Project Leader (Barry Harrelson) and I meet with you or other appropriate DO representatives soon to discuss possible options for responding to the request. John Pereira Attachments CL REASON 1.5 (b,c,&d) DECL BY X1 DRV FRM LIA 2-82
13-00000 MEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: OFFICE: SUBJECT: REFERENCE: SECRET [anes CLAEASOM: Section. Sd DECL on: X5 pav erta: LIA 2-82 1 December 1997 Je DO : bo J. Barry Harrelson JFK Project Officer CSIJHRG JFK Board Request - Mexico City Request from ARRB Chairman, Judge Tunheim re intercepts of Oswald's calls; Letter fr ExDir, ARRB, to C/HRG dated Sept 5, 1997 same subject | provided copies of the two Oswald telephone intercepts received from the Station to the ARRB staff. The ARRB staff has responded with a number of questions for the Stationito ask! | The list of questions is being faxed to you; please call if you have not received it by noon today (Monday). Judge Tunheim will be in Washington on 15 December and has ask for an update on the status of the request. Thank you for your assistance with this. request; if you have any questions please call me on 81825) cc: ‘John Pereira @ DCI Barry Sent on 1 December 1997 at 10:14:23 AM SECRET
13-00000 Classification of Material Transmitted “ORT ae ‘ley HISTORICAL REVIEW GROUP rand. 10S hg CENTER FOR: THE STUDY OF INTELLIGENCE Phone 4 703-613-1806 PLEASE DELIVER IMMEDIATELY 26 2 2 a 2 a a a EE EE EAE AE e \ CLASSIFIED FAX ‘SUBJECT: Guests FOR CLS "FROM: Brey Peeaeson, SISSY a DELIVER TO: | GRITS / RECEIVING FAX NO. 70 3- VE ¢- OF Gs DATE TRANSMITTED: ?)) pn, PAGES TRANSMITTED: 2 Do) (including cover sheet) TRANSMITTED BY: Ave HuyTee. 36 96 2 EE EE EE EE IE EE EE HE EE HE HEHE HEE IE HHH LIE HLL ELLE L EEE EELS EH HE HH MESSAGE: PROAITY SERET Classification of Material Transmitted 4 .
13-00000 4 Sec rel “Classification of Material Transmitted FAX COVER SHEET SUBJECT: Questions SENDING FAX NO: 202-638-4274 RECEIVING FAX NO; 703-613-3060 DATE TRANSMITTED: >? NES 77 PAGES TRANSMITTED (including cover sheet) C — TRANSMITTED BY: KF. ck » p Fed WHR: TA PR. AP NHC
13-00000 SECRET These are our questions to be passed to the COS with our thanks. / UY, 1. Can we have the original documents? Barry, 2. Does the date and location appear on the original documents? is there any indication as to when and where they were added? 3. Is there a Spanish version of the transcripts? Can we have it if one exists? 4. Where were the two transcripts found? What file or box? Who found them? 5. What else is in the file or box where these two transcripts were found? 6. Are there any additional files on the assassination or any post assassination investigation still in existence? 7. Were any files on the assassination or any post assassination investigation destroyed under a routine records destruction schedule? _ 8. Are there any teltap tape recordings from the era 1960-1963 still in existence? 9. Are there any individualswho were involved in the teltap, the Sylvia Duran interrogation, and/or any post assassination investigation who could be interviewed - by the ARRB? 10. Are there any persons knowledgeable about the filing system and records management both in 1963 and to the present who could be interviewed by the ARRB and might have some knowledge of the disposition of any teltap information, any Syliva Duran interrogation records, and/or any assassination or post assassination records in the archives? SECRET
13-00000 . OCT 21 °97 22:@1 MEXI 4 /Please see the Spanish transcrs: Lon/. 3 yi spoaka in English tq someone 45 tine Peel you opoate Rusetont Vos. Wor conte you sales to bin?.. ‘I don't know... /MO takea tho pnome end says im ‘sroken Russian, “ Iwas in your Embassy and spexo to your consul. Just a minwsc MI takes tae phone and acks MO in English Wast éses he went? , MOs fin Rugsien/ Please spoeale ‘Russian. WIs " What elsa do ‘you want? . - Mo; = Twas Just mow at your Enbassy and they soos my sddvess MIs si lenow that. ‘Moz = ‘/apoaks terrible, herdly recognizable Russian/ I dia not know it then. I want to tae Cuban Embassy te ass thom for my address, because they have it.. Mos Vay don't you ‘come again ang lsave YOur cédzess Wiss us, 1s not fax from’ the Cuban Embass7. 28 Septarber 1983 Soviet Esbassy Os Well, Z'LL be shere sight away.
13-00000 4 VE ah U5i. -— @ “Sf Cath ries Hello, this LES OSWALD (phon) spoeking. i wes YOG~ My nome is " Just a minute I'll find ous. They say teas fear 74 woe . Po ee ems 8S emt @ on Om Fe . eyed ae Meee ret Sgt Cable” Gey som wao proved 2 uy cm ss In at £80 (2) MO / tho samo per ago and sroke in broken Russian/ sposies so CBYEIACT. Last Saturday and spoke to s consul, end th they'd send 'e talegram to Washinston, <0 a Wantse So find out if you have enything new? But I don's Temenoo> ef that cencul. | KOSTIKOV. He ts der’ /nair or skin?/. OSWAID. they od enks received anrthing yet. . . Have they éor 28 anything? Yes, they say that a request has beon sont out, but nothings hes: been reccivad as yot. And what...? /O3¥ hangs up/. . (previcusly transcribed) ee '" | L"October 1963 oo : Sevdet Enbaagy
13-00000 , 7 SECRET cl By:0185904__/ CL REASON: Section 1.5 d pect ow: X5 av eam: LIA 4-82 NOTE FOR: DA Lee S. Strickland @ FROM: John F. Pereira OFFICE: - CSIJHRP DATE: 01/23/98 05:19:59 PM SUBJECT: Meeting with Chair, JFK Board (S) At his request , | met with the Chairman of the JFK Board, Judge Jack Tunheim this morning for more than an hour. A principal topic of discussion was the status of the Agency's response to Tunheim's request that we ask to provide records and other information related to Oswald's time inf Mexico. (The’station is following up on a preliminary response| , (FOUO}Tunheim described efforts the Board is making to obtain records directly from the KGB , with State Department assistance. Not much success so far. sO {FOUO) We also discussed the general relationship between the Beard and CIA, about which he was very positive. He is aware that we have added resources te step up the pace of our review in view of the 1 September deadline. He said that he does net see much chance that Congress would extend the Board's charter again. Ed: Tunheim asked that we set up a meeting with you on 18 Feb, when he'll be in town for a meeting of the Board. ct: J. Barry Harrelson] Sent on 23 January 1998 at 05:19:59 PM SECRET
13-00000 ' MEMORANDUM CTA SPE CIAT, COLLECTION: September 19, 1998 BREE, LS TN FG I L To: Laura Denk Zi 690 Executive Director cc: Bob Skwirot CIA Team Leader From: Michelle Combs yA AL Associate Director for Research and Review Subject: CIA-IR-05 Possible Foreign Source for Records on Oswald The Review Board requested that the CIA assist i in locating and acquiring records relevant to Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of President John Kennedy which might exist in the files of a foreign government agency. Due to the foreign liaison sensitivity of this request, information on this issue was passed between the CIA, Review Board Chairman Judge John Tunheim, and one Review Board staff member. On September 15, 1998, Chairman Tunheim and I flew to Houston to consult with CIA Directorate of Operations officers on the likelihood of the existence of additional records and the possibility that the CLA would be successful in acquiring these records. These CIA officers demonstrated that they had consulted numerous times with the senior officials of the foreign government but had, thus far, been unsuccessful in obtaining additional records or in confirming, visually, the existence of additional records. The CIA agreed to continue to work to obtain these records. e:\combs\cia-ir05.wpd File 4.20.1 and 4.20.4
SB WO Y L Se Cih- LR-OS Assassination Records Review Board 600 E Street NW « 2nd Floor «> Washington, DC 20530 (202) 724-0088 + Fax: (202) 724-0457 ene mem oy RO eM T vv met xy views Ss December 18, 1997 Cs4 238) OOHRS TEGNS Mr. John Pereira 32 EN PULL Chief 2000 Historical Review Group Center for the Study of Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 02505 Re: Status of CIA Responses to to Assassination Records Review Board's s Requests for Additional Information and Records - Dear John: I am writing to follow-up on our telephone call earlier today and to convey my serious concern about the status of CIA’s responses to the Review Board's requests for additional information and records. Although CIA has completed its responses to several requests, and many others have been answered in part, a significant number of requests have not been answered — including some that were made more than two years ago. On many occasions we have been assured that responses would be forthcoming, only to have promised dates come and go without answers. It is now extremely important that these requests be answered promptly so that we may conduct a proper follow-up if necessary. The issues that we can now identify as being of the highest priority are identified in the text below by double asterisks (**)' and we request that they be answered within the next month. We request that the remaining requests be answered by April-1, 1998. The remainder of this letter is divided into two parts: first, a listing of the formal requests for information and records, and second, a listing of the informal requests for information and records. Please let me know if your understanding of any of the following points differs from ours so that we can resolve any potential discrepancies. ‘As identified more fully below, the issues are: CLA-1 Organizational Material, CIA-6 Cables and Dispatches, CIA-13 Backchannel Communications, CIA-IR-03 HTLINGUAL Documents, CIA-IR-04 Disposition of Angleton Files, CLA-IR-07 Claude Barnes Capehart, CIA-IR-15 Electronic “take” from Mexico City, CIA-IR-21 DRE Monthly Operational Reports, CIA-IR-22 “A” Files on Clay Shaw and Jim Garrison. tt Boaro Memaers: John R. Tunheim, Chair « Henry F. Graff + Kermit 1. Halli - William L. Joyce + Anna K. Nelson
13-00000 Mr. John Pereira December 18, 1997 Page 7 Documents file: documents Nos. 496, 498, 499, 500, and 510. The Review Board is awaiting confirmation that these documents are at HRG for processing. CIA-IR-05 Possible Foreign Source for Records on Oswald. CIA was informally requested to use its contacts to pursue certain records related to Oswald that were orally described to CIA. The Review Board understands that the CIA has taken steps to pursue these records. CIA-IR-06 QKENCHANT. The Review Board seeks information regarding the purpose of QKENCHANT and its connection with Clay Shaw, Howard Hunt, and Monroe Sullivan. The Review Board was initially provided some information in regard to this request that now appears to be incorrect. CIA is now seeking additional information to correct or to clarify its previous answers. The Review Board seeks an immediate, full, and accurate formal response to this request. Once the formal statement is provided, this request will be complete. ™CIA-IR-07 Claude Barnes Capehart. The ARRB staff has reviewed all records that CIA has been able to locate to date. During the course of this review, additional questions were raised that CIA agreed to pursue. CIA also agreed to conduct additional searches to determine ~ whether there may be additional retrievable records.on Mr. Capehart. The Review Board seeks a full and accurate formal response to this request. Once the formal statement is provided, this request will be complete. . CIA-IR-08 Unredacted Copy of the “Family Jewels” Memoranda. ARRB has reviewed a redacted version of the “Family Jewels.” Additional _ questions have been raised. At meeting between HRG, ARRB and the DCI/IRO on December 11, 1997, specific redacted pages were identified for ARRB staff review. These pages should be made available as soon as possible.