ARRB REQUEST: CIA-IR-05: POSSIBLE FOREIGN SOURCE FOR RECORDS ON OSWALD
Originator: CIA
From: ARRB
To: CIA/HRG
Document date: 09/05/1997
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

AAAAA

1104-10336-10004

2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

United States Department of State

Washington, D.C.

20520

April 8, 1997

D

David Marwell

Executive Director

Assassination Records Review Board

600 E Street, NW

2nd Floor

Washington, DC 20530

ASSASSIRATION HICORDS

6EVILW 60422

Dear Mr. Marwell:

Enclosed is the diplomatic note received from the Mexican

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.

enclosed

I have stamped

copies of pages bearing "confidential" classification

markings.

I am also enclosing a copy of Mexico City telegram

~ 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

time since Tokyo reported that the Japanese government would be

searching for documents, the ARRB might wish to prepare a

followup cable.

Sincerely,

lena leins

Nina J.

Noring

Department of State Liaison

JFK Assassination Records

Collection Act

Attachments:

As indicated.

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## Page 2

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REC

ISSINATION

SS

SECRET

Assassination Records Review Board

600 € Street NW • 2nd Floor • Washington, DC 20530

(202) 724-0088 • Fax: (202) 724-0457

VIEW

BOAR

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 liaison channels regarding LIENVOY intercepts of

Oswald telephone calls in Mexico City

Some time ago the Review Board requested informally that CLA contact(its liaison

channels in 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 visit to Mexico City in September-October

1963. There is evidence that CIA intercepted some telephone calls through an operation

named LIENVOY (conducted jointly with components of the Mexican government, We

believe that it would be appropriate for CIA to contact directly Mexico City liaison

(Channels 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

BOARD MEMBERS: John R. Tunheim, Chair • Henry F. Graff • Kermit L. Hall • William L. Joyce • Anna K. Nelson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: David G. Marwell

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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 appropriate Mexican Officials is found in

ClA 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,

Justinter.

T. Jeremy Gunn

General Counsel and Associate Director

for Research and Analysis

cc: J. Barry Harrelson, HRG

Enclosures

SECRET

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## Page 4

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Descriptive Name: CIA Request to J. Pereira

Letter (Class. SECRET)

Descriptive Type:

Subject:

CIA Request

Attachments:

CIA Doc. 104-10004-10199, DOS correspondence

Blind Copy:

Carbon Copy:

Barry Harrelson

Reference:

Classified CIA memos a:lcia-mc.02wpd

Document Number: File: 4.20.4

Date Completed:

9/5/97 12:00:00 AM

Checked By:

Jeremy Gunn

Typist:

Cathy Rodriguez

Author:

Irene Marr

---

## Page 5

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AGENCY

RECORD NUMBER

RECORD SERIES

AGENCY FILE NUMBER

SECRET.ymnpage.only

Assassination Records Review Board

Final Determination Notification

CIA

104-10004-10199

JEK

201-289248

OSW10:V10B 1993.06.14.15:36:06:060000

September 19, 1995

Status of Document:

Postponed in Part

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 in the document in question; (b) the absence of evidence that the release of

the information would cause harm to the United States or to any individual.

Number of Postponements: 6

Postponement #1 (Page RS):

Reason for Board Action: The text 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 Document

Date of Next Review: 12/1995

Postponement # 2 (Page R$):

Reason for Board Action: The text 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 Document

Date of Next Review: 12/1995

Postponement # 3 (Page 1):

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

SECRET

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## Page 6

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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 properly may

be withheld under Section 6(1)(B) of the JPK 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

Postponement # 6 (Page 14):

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 of about Lee Harvey Oswald.

• Date of Next Review: 2017

Board Review Completed: 08/03/95

---

## Page 7

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L COOPENTALE PES

iNTERNAL

- USE ONLY

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EXTENSION

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CLASSIFIED

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## Page 8

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"P.4"

SECRET

and athas nitrasles mey kavy taken bated on sur regart. la auxaire that tho

Fal way bars nada luna? chocks thrust hextour authurition to sen 15

restlintion las conflived all the detello of his 4819, aberre da stayes,

and what he did. To droid 0704814r 14000 vitt tie fil, dir Messice Station

MExICO Da 3 Octobar and Mes Do lonior thate wher out report sno put out.

Tina the taraphose too operation 1e a joint one vita the Maciono

treaidanor, the Maltan alto bad the 1 october Literant on Joe ONALI,

but it orgareatly aluntarad in trir flies intil the accassication took

32000.

a: 1953.

Whos verd of the shautiny of trusident Kunzedo sunchal the 085ic06

os or speratiny dirtatoon and statta on the Alterna al IrJoy 22 does-

box 1963, treatstor tadtos sero turnal ou everyndero to fallon the

traced, When the rose of lee OliNiD vas board, the estact nas elastria.

SECRET

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## Page 9

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DRAFTED BY: A/ IM/ I S/FPCAPPA: MPGRAFELD

APPROVED BY: A: PFKENNEDY

A/IM/IS: EVILSON• A/IM:HGEISEL, A/IM/IS/FPC: PSHEILS

ARA/NEX: DURS

-310619 2321182 /38

R 2321871 APR 96

FM, SEGSTATE-WASHDC

TEANENBASSY MEXICO

UNCLAS STATE 884217

FOR THE ANBASSADOR FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY KENNEDY

E.O. 12958: M/A

TAGS:

AINF

SUAJECT: JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS'

COLLECTION ACT OF 1992

1. THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992

THE "ACT" MAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON OCTOBER 26r 1992.

THE ACT ESTABLISHED A PROGESS FOR IDENTIFYING AND::

SECURING ALL RECORDS RELATING TO THE ASSASSINATION OF

PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND COLLECTING THEM IN THE

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS

COLLECTION AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN COLLEGE PARKA

MARYLAND, THE ACT ALSO ESTABLISHED THE ASSASSINATION

RECORDS REVIEN BOARD CARRBI TO COORDINATE AND QUERSEE

THE PROCESS. THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NORKING GLOSELY

WITH THE ARRB TO ENSURE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THESE

REQUIRENENTS AND OVER A YEAR AGO PRODUCED ITS

COLLECTION FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

Z. THERE REMAINS, HOMEVER, ONE PROVISION OF THE ACT.

FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY MUST RELY ON YOUR OFFICE FOR

INPLEMENTATION. THE ACT ENVISIONED AN APPROACH TO

FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS FOR ANY RECORDS THAT THEY MIGHT

POSSESS. SPECIFICALLY, SECTION 10 Q1 121 OF THE ACT

STATES THAT IT IS THE "SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE

SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD CONTACT. .. MYJ FOREIGN

GOVERNNENT THAT MAY HOLD INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE

ASSASSIMATION AND SEEK DISCLOSURE OF SUCH INFORMATION.*

3. IN ITS CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED SEARCH FOR

ASSASSINATION RECORDS: THE ARRB WISHES TO DETERMINE

WHETHER THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OR LOGAL GOVERNMENT

AGENCIES IN MEXICO MAINTAIN RECORDS THAT ARE RELATED TO

THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENHEDY. THE ARRA NOTES

THAT THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY ATTRACTED

THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLDS AND THAT THE RESPONSE OF

TRE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO THE EVENT WOULD BE OSa

INTEREST. IN ADDITION. RECORDS OF MEXICAN AUTHORITIES

CONCERNING LEE MARVEY OSWALD'S VISIT TO MEXICO CITYSIN

: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1963 WOULD BE OF INTENSE SARDINE

1. WITHOUT BEING AWARE OF THE STRUCTURE AND

ORGANIZATION OF POTENTIALLY RELEVANT MEXICAN FILES. THE

ARRB CANNOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON THE

APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR ENSURING A COMPREHENSIVE

SEARCH.

THE ARRB IS WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION THAT MAY DE REQUIRED. ANY SEARCH FOR

RECORDS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

TEL: 202-647-509423128

I A MA 110 11

UNCLASSIFIED

Department of State

SHC9633

STATE 884217 232186Z

CA) ARY AND ALL RECORDS RELATED TO TRE ACTIVITIES OF

THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES DESCRIBED IN THE DIPLONATIG

NOTES TO THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IM MEXICO CITY FROM

THE MEXICAN SECRETARIAT OF FOREICH RELATIONS NO. 584826

DATED MAY 18%

1964, AND NO. 565583 DATED JUNE 9, 1964.

THESE ACTIUITIES IRCLUDE:

--CLOSURE OF THE BORDER BY THE DEPARTHENT OF THE

INTERIOR ON NOVERBER 22, 1963;

--DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS THAT SANE DATE "TO TIGHTEN

SURVEILLANCE IN TRE BORDER AREA• ESPECIALLY AT REYNOSA

CIUDAD MIQUEL ALEMAN, NUEVO LAREDOE AND MATAMOROS;" AND

--INVESTICATION OF OSMALD'S TRIP TO MEXICO CITY IN

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1963, AND ESPEGIALLY OF HIS MEANS OF

ENTERING AND EXITING MEXICO AND*HIS-CONTACTS WITH

•SILVIA TIRADO-DURAN, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CUBAN CONSULATE"

arIA: MEXICO CILY.

(P) ANY AHD ALL DOCUMENTS THAT IDENTIFY AMERICAN

REQUESTS TO MEXICO FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE

ASSASSINATION AND TRE MEXICAN RESPONSES TO THOSE

REQUESTS.

IC) ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS, STUDIES, INQUIRIES OR

INVESTIGATIONS BY MEXICAN GOVERKKENT ENTITIES OF THE

ASSASSINATION.

TAL BOTT

P..003

OUTGOING

TELEGRAM

PAGE 01

ORIGIN A-DE

PEE 24084217 5541. 96

INFO LOG-B8

SHCSB33

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## Page 10

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SECRET

(DRAFT)

CSI 1997-444

25 September 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR:

(Thomas Pallas, DO/LA

Fred

Wickham, DO/IMS

FROM:

SUBJECT:

John F. Pereira

Chief, CSI/HRG

Priority Request from Chairman,

JFK Assassination Records Board

1.

(S) 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 Lee

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 liaisonto

determine if the Mexican Government has certain records related to

Oswald's activities in Mexico in late 1963. Of particular interest

to the Board is whether the Mexicans have copies

(tel-tap operations, including coverage of Oswald's telephone calls

asse mexico cans hav

of tapes from joint

to 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 tightly held joint operations that

the Board knew of from CIA records.

Being sensitive to the

Agency's request to protect this information, Tunheim would like

the Agency to contact Mexican Liaison directly) on the Board's

behalf.

CL BY /0185904

CL REASON 1.5 (b,c, &d)

DECL BY X1

DRV FRM LIA 2-82

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## Page 11

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SECRET

SUBJECT:

Priority Request from Chairman,

JFK Assassination Records Board

(FOUO) 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

John Pereira

Attachments

CL. BY (0185904

CL REASON 1.5 (b,C, &d)

DECL BY X1

DRV FRM LIA 2-82

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SECRET

CL BY: 611637)

CL REASON: Section 1.5d

DECL ON: X5

DRY FRM: LIA 2-82

1 December 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Warren G. STUETZLER @ DO

Fredrick C. Wickham @ DO

FROM:

J. Barry Harrelson

JFK Project Officer

CSI/HRG

OFFICE:

SUBJECT:

REFERENCE:

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

I 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 Station to ask the Mexican service 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 31825.

Barry

C:

John Pereira @ DCI

Sent on 1 December 1997 at 10:14:23 AM

SECRET

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FAX'd 10:25Am

12/1191

SECRET

Classification of Material Transmitted

HISTORICAL REVIEW GROUP

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF INTELLIGENCE

Phone # 703-613-1806

PLEASE DELIVER IMMEDIATELY

*+77777777777777777*77*7

****

CLASSIFIED FAX

SUBJECT: QUESTIONS FOR COS

FROM: BARRY HARRELSON, SCTICSI/HRG

SENDING FAX NO. 703-613-30607

DELIVER TO: TOM PALLASS, X4NI49 DOlLA

RECEIVING FAXNO. 703-234-7096?

DATE TRANSMITTED: *1/9, PAGES TRANSMITTED: >

(including cover sheet)

TRANSMITTED BY: BUNNiE HUNTER

**

+***********

****

MESSAGE:

PRIORITY

7***77

SECRET

Classification of Material Transmitted

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secret

Classification of Material Transmitted

FAX COVER SHEET

FROM: michelle combs

SENDING FAX NO: 202-638-4274

DEMARTO: Barry Hamelson

RECEIVING FAX NO: 703-613-3060

DATE TRANSMITTED: 7210097

PAGES TRANSMITTTED (including cover sheet) 2

TENANTED: Kuchnich

I'd

WHiPt: TA

PR. RД ЛНГ

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SECRET

Barry,

These are our questions to be passed to the COS with our thanks.

Michelle

1. Can we have the original documents?

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

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OCT 21 '97 22:01 MEXI

205.

Chatte.

Mloase seo the spanish tranaeription/ or :esag

spuals 12 English to sendoso 15 tino bsolissomini do said sici

iR.E. 22 So 55, 2 5)

MO:

N0:

MIS

NO:

•10:

'I don't know.. MO taies the phoso and saga la scocoa fussiari

I was Is gour ambaasy and spoio to your consul. Just a mauti

MI tabos tao phone aad acts 10 11 Inglish ieat doos be wast?

/1a Russian/ Floade apuak Riss1an.

"hat also do you want?

I was just now at your subassy and they took ay sairess

I lanow that.

/apoaks terrible, herdly recogalzablo Buscian/ I did =05

know 1t then. I want to tho Cuben Imbeesy to sai thou sos

• I addross; because they bave 1t..

Viay doult you icono' agais and loäve your addross wit's us,

not far from the Cuban Embassy.

Well, I'll be shere sigit away.

28 Septanbes 1933

Soviet Imbassy

..

**.

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## Page 17

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191.

249.

MO:

OBY:

LEE:

OBES

LaE:

OBY:

La?:

P.. 3

In at Jíel 18) M0/ tha sano person viao pacisco a duu sa =a

ago and spoke in broson Ruscian/ spodies to cbrasici.

Mello, this Ide OWED (poo spoolestes to your placa

last Saturday and spoke to a consul, and touy said tast

they'd será a talegram to Wardlagton, so i Wassue to sira

out 11 jou have earthing now? But I dox's constiour the Iana

of that conci.

KOSTIKOV. Ee Is dark /aa1r or 8k10?/.

XeS. MY SATO IS OSHAID.

Just a minute I'll find out; icey say thai they surerkt

received su,thing yeù.

Have they dore anything?

Yes, they say that a sequent has beon sont out, but rots'=s

has bees receirod as jet.

And what.

•? /0ãy bangs up/.

(areviously transeribed)

• I'October 1963

Soviet Enosasy

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## Page 18

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SECRET

CL BY:0185904

CL REASON: Section 1.5 d

DECL ON: X5

DRY FRM: LIA 4-82

NOTE FOR:

FROM:

OFFICE:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

Edmund Cohen @ DA

Lanie P. D'Alessandro @ DA

Lee S. Strickland @ DA

John F. Pereira

CSI/HRP

01/23/98 05:19:59 PM

Meeting with Chair, JFK Board

(S) At his request, I 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 Mexican liaison to provide records and

other information related to Oswald's time in Mexico. (The station is following up on a preliminary response from liaison.)

(FOUO)Tunheim described efforts the Board is making to obtain records directly from the KGB, with State Department assistance. Not

much success so far.

(FOUO) We also discussed the general relationship between the Board and CIA, about which he was very positive. He is aware that we

have added resources to step up the pace of our review in view of the 1 September deadline. He said that he does not 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.

CC:

J. Barry Harrelson Winda C. Cipriant]

Sent on 23 January 1998 at 05:19:59 PM

SECRET

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## Page 19

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MEMORANDUM

September 19, 1998

To:

Laura Denk

Executive Director

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

RELGASE IN FULL

2000

CC:

From:

Bob Skwirot

CIA Team Leader

Michelle Combs Michelle Conto

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 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 CIA 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

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## Page 20

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• .

Assassination Records Review Board

600 E Street NW • 2nd Floor • Washington, DC 20530

(202) 724-0088 • Fax: (202) 724-0457

December 18, 1997

CLA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

RELZASE IN FULL

Mr. John Pereira

Chief

2000

Historical Review Group

Center for the Study of Intelligence

Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, D.C. 02505

Re: Status of CIA Responses to Assassination Records Review Board'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 CLA 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: CIA-1 Organizational Material,

CLA-6 Cables and Dispatches, CIA-13 Backchannel Communications, CLA-IR-03

HTLINGUAL Documents, CLA-IR-04 Disposition of Angleton Files, CIA-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.

BOARO MEMBERS: John R. Tunheim, Chair • Henry F. Graff • Kermir !. Hall • William L. Joyce • Anna K. Nelson

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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 FIRG 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.

**CLA-IR-07 Claude Barnes Capehart.

The ARRB staff has reviewed all records that CLA 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 HIRG, 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.

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