HSCA PROCEDURAL WRITE-UP: CUBA TRIP
Agency: HSCA
Originator: HSCA
Document date: 00/00/0000
Document type: REPORT

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JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY: HSCA

RECORD NUMBER:

180-10144-10236

RECORD SERIES: CIA SEGREGATED COLLECTION

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 30-59-01

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

HSCA

FROM:

TO:

TITLE:

HSCA PROCEDURAL WRITE-UP: CUBA TRIP

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

00/00/0000

45

HSCA, TRIP TO CUBA

DOCUMENT TYPE: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION:

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 1A; 1B

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 08/21/1995

OPENING CRITERIA:

COMMENTS:

Box 24

v9.1

HH 53080

DocId: 32272523

Page 1

Date:

4/14/201

Released under the John

F. Kennedy

issassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USe 2107 Notel.

Case#:NW 53080 Date:

06-05-2017

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- 82 -

Appendix I: HSCA Procedural Write-up

Cuba Trip 1

Select Committee members Chairman Louis Stokes

and Congressman Christopher Dodd, accompanied by G.

Robert Blakey, Gary Cornwell and Ed Lopez of the Select

Committee staff arrived in Cuba at 3:30 p.m., March 30,

1978.

They were met and escorted through Cuban Customs

by the Mayor of Havana, Honorable Oscar Fernandez Mell,

the Minister of Justice, Dr. Armendo Torres Sentrayll,

Senor Buergo, Ricardo Escartin and the Cuban government

translator, Juanita Vera. At approximately 7:30 p.m.

Senor Mell escorted the Select Committee staff to a res-

taurant in Old Havana. The following day Richardson

Preyer arrived in Cuba at 7:00 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m. on March 31, 1978 the Select Committee

representatives met with Ricardo Escartin, Senor Buergo

and Captain Felipe Villa of the Ministry of the Interior.

The Cuban Government gave the members and Committee

their official reply to the Committée's questionnaire,

given to the Cuban government prior to the Committeee's

trip to Cuba.

At 3:00 p.m., the Select Committee met again with

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Ricardo Escarten, Senen Buergo, Felipe Villa and Juanita

Vera. During this session the two major areas of dis-

cussion were Lee Harvey Oswald's visa application and the

dates of Jack Ruby's visits to Cuba in 1959. (See trans-

cript.) At 7:30 p.m. the House Select Committee on Assas-

sinations staff dined with the Minister of Justice, Armando

Torres Sartrayll.

At 9:00 a.m. on April 1, 1978, the Select Committee

staff again met with the same Cuban officials for a

third session. Santo Trafficante was the major area of

discussion. (See transcript.) At noon, Committee members

and staff representatives met with Cuba's Minister of

Education, Honorable Jose Ramon Fernandez, who gave a

presentation on the improvement in quality of Cuban edu-

cation since the Cuban Revolution.

Following Senor Fernandez's discussion at 3:15 p.m.

Eusebio Azcue was interivewed by the Committee staff re-

presentative. Azcue was auestioned extensively about

Oswald's alleged trip to Mexico City, Oswald's alleged

visits to the Cuban Consulate, and Senor Azcue's

alleged

argument with Lee Harvey Oswald. (See transcript of Azcue

interview.)

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At 7:30 p.m., April 1, 1978, Messers Escartin and

Hernandez accompanied the House Select Committee staff

t o the Tropicana Club which, prior to the Revolution,

was operated by organized crime. The Tropicana Club is

presently run by the Cuban government.

At 11:00 a.m. on April 2, 1978, the Committee

staff again met with Senen Buergo, Ricardo Escartin,

Felipe Villa, Aramis Gutierrez and Juanita Vera. Santo

Trafficante, Jack Ruby and Mexico City were the major

areas of discussion. ¡-This session terminated at 1:00:

pim. EAt: At: p.m... t

the morning's meeting resumed: -Dur-

ing the afternoon, session the major area of discussion

was the alleged pro-Castro involvement in the assassina-

tion.

At 9:15 a.M., April 3, 1978, the Committee staff

met with the Cuban officials for a final work session.

During this session, the intelligence agencies and

general questions derived from the questionnaire the Com-

mittee provided the Cuban government, were the major areas

of discussion. Also during the session the Committee

staff and Cuban officials exchanged listings of pending

material which might be covered during a subsequent

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trip to Cuba by HSCA representatives and Congressmen.

At 6:00 p.m. the Committee staff met with Presi-

dent Fidel Castro who assured the Committee that neither

he nor his government had any involvement in the assassina-

tion of President John F. Kennedy. (See Castro inter-

view.)

The House Select Committee on Assassinations staff

departed Havana,: Cuba at 10:00 a.m, April 4, 1978, arriv-

ing in Washington, D.C. at 4:30 p.m.

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Appendix 2: HSCA Procedural Write-up Mexico Trip

House Select Committee on Assassinations staffers

Gary Cornwell, Dan

Hardway, Edwin Lopez and Harold Leap

arrived at the Mexico City airport at 8:30 p.m., May

30, 1978. (A11 times are Mexico City times, unless

otherwise specified.) They were met and escorted

through Customs by David Patton, an employee of the.

United States Embassy•

The following morning, May , 1978 the HSCA

representatives met with U.S. Embassy Political Officer

Richard Howard concerning procedure. Mr. Howard sche-

duled a meeting at 11:15 a.m. with the Chief of the CIA

Station in Mexico City. This meeting was preliminary

in nature and concerned procedures regarding arrangement

of the interviews of ex-CIA employees in Mexico.

At 12:00 noon, the NSCA representatives and

Richard Howard met representatives of the Government of

Mexico. The Mexican representatives were: 1) Dr. Jesus

Vanez, Advisor to the Attorney General's Executive Offi-

cer; 2) Fernando Baeza, Chief Administrative Officer for

the Attorney General; and 3) Commandate Florentino Ven-

tura, Chief of the Mexican Federal Police. The Mexicans

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informed the staff members at this meeting that they had

located Silvia Duran, Horacio Duran, Ruben Duran and

Pedro Gutierrez Valencia and that each person was willing

to be interviewed by the HSCA representatives. Proce-

dure for conduct of the interviews was also discussed

at this meeting.

The Mexican government decided that the initial

interview.would be an informal contact with the witnesses

to describe the Committee's objectives. The witnesses'

statements would be formalized at a later, taped inter-

view. The Mexican officials informed the HSCA staff mem-

bers that they had been unable to locate Oscar Contreras,

Elena Garro de Paz, Elenita Garro. de Paz and Oscar

Molina. The Mexican Government had not had contact with

the Garros since 1968. The HSCA staff members provided

additional information on Oscar Rodriguez Molina. The

Mexicans said that they were trying to locate the Garros

through the Foreign Ministry since Elena's ex-husband,

Octavio Paz, was an important person in that ministry.

The Mexicans asked that we determine the name of the

Mexican Government contact during 1964 with the warren

commission so that they could locate their records

in

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88.

the Archives.

The Mexican officials left to set up the preliminary

interviews with witnesses.

The preliminary

interviews

were conducted by Gary Cornwell. HSCA staff members Dan

Hardway, Edwin Lopez and Harold Leap were present during

Cornwell's questioning. The Mexican Government was re-

presented by Dr. Jesus Yanez, Commandante Florentino

Ventura, and Jesus

Meixueiro Kanty, second in command

to Ventura. Pedro Gutierrez Valencia was interviewed at

2:30 pM. Ruben Duran was interviewed at 5:00 p.m.

Horacio Duran was interviewed at 5:30 p.m. Silvia Duran

was

interviewed at 6:15 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m. on June 1, 1978 the HSCA staff re-

presentatives met with the Mexican police representatives.

The possibility of other witnesses and evidence was dis-

cussed. The HSCA staff requested l) the records of the

company that employed Gutierrez Valencia in 1963; press

clippings of the Mexican newspaper coverage of Oswald .

and Silvia Duran (attached); an interview with Oscar

Rodriguez Molina; 4) an interview with Oscar Contreras;

5) individual files on Elena Garro de Paz and Silvia

duran; 6) evidence related to Silvia Duran's assertion

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89

that Oswald was at the Cuban Embassy on one day only;

7) Deba Garro de Guerrero Galvan; 8) Eunice Odio;

9) Emilio Carballido; and 10) Victor Rico Galan. The

HSCA also asked to be shown the Cuban Consulate.

The Mexican representatives informed the HSCA

staff that Victor Rico Galan had, at one time, been

arrested on political charges but that he was subse-

quently pardoned by either Diaz Ordaz or Luis Echevarria.

The Mexicans said that they were searching for all files

and newspaper articles requested by the HSCA..

The Mexican officials also offered. their observa-

tions on the preliminary interviews conducted the pre-

vious day. They pointed out that they found it strange

that Silvia had told Oswald he could not travel while

in Cuba. They wondered what she was trying to tell

him and whether she thought that Oswald had some objec-

tive in going to Cuba other than that ascribed by the

popular version. They considered the manner in which

Silvia obtained employment at the Cuban Consulate unusual.

Generally they noted that Silvia and her brothers seemed

to have almost programed responses and a defensive demea-

nor. They pointed out, however, that all the

Durans had

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90

had been very interested in talking to us. In their

opinion, Ruben Duran was the most credible of those

interviewed by the HSCA the previous day.

At this point, a Mexican official who had been

checking the computer records informed us that Victor

Rico Galan was dead.

HSCA staff members provided the Mexican authori-

ties with the names of the Mexican officials who had

been involved in the investigation in 1963.

HSCA staff members met again with the Mexican po-

lice authorities at 10:00 .a.m. on June 2, 1978. At this

time, the Mexican police provided the copies of the news-.

paper clippings on the assassination from the Excelsior.

HSCA staff members asked if the Mexicans could persuade

the newspapers to reveal the sources of their stories

about Oswald and Silvia Duran. The Mexican officials'

response was negative. The Mexican officials informed

the HSCA staff members. that most of the data we wanted

from the files was in their Security Service files. The

Mexican officials working at the HSCA explained that

they were the Mexican equivalent of the FBI and that

the Security Service was the Mexican equivalent of the

CIA; hence there was the usual bureaucratic problem

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involved in obtaining access to their files. The Mexi-

cans informed the HSCA representatives that Emilio Car-

billido had been located; that Victor Rico Galan was

dead; that Deba Garro could not be located; and that

there was no record of anyone

named Eunice Odio. HSCA

representatives told the Mexican officials. that odio,

who was either Costa Rican or Guatemalan, had been the

mistress of Emilio Carballido..: The assassination and

the reaction of the Mexican people to this event was

discussed.

At 1:00 p.m., HSCA staff members

conducted an

interview at the United States Embassy in connection

with the CIA aspects of the Mexico City investigation.

At 2:30, Gary Cornwell discussed problems with

the Chief of the Mexico City CIA Station. He requested

that the COS cable Headquarters regarding restrictions

placed on the HSCA staff in Mexico.

At 6:00 p.m., the HSCA staff members, accompanied

by Jesus Meixueiro Kanty and his assistant, Honorio

Escondon, met with the assistant chief of the Mexican

Security Service Nazar. Mr. Nazar gave an oral resume

of the interviews with Mexican officials conducted in

1963 of Silvia,. Horatio. and Ruben Duran and Betty Serratas.

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Mr. Nazar

said that the files had to be formally requested

before he could consider releasing them. He suggested

that we secure statements admissible in United States

courts from the witnesses whom we wished to interview.

Mr. Nazar suggested that our best investigatory avenue

would be to concentrate on Oswald's interrogation after

his arrest on November 22nd. Mr. Nazar had a very low

opinion of Elena Garro de Paz's credibility.

June 3 and 4, 1978, were spent on CIA-related

aspects of the Mexico City investigation. Two interviews

were conducted.

At 11:00 a.m. on June 5, 1978, the HSCA staff

interviewed Horacio Duran for the record. At 1:00 p.m.,

HSCA staff member Edwin Lopez and Mexican officials

Honorio Escondon and Dr. Alfonso Orozco Gutierrez inter-

viewed Pedro Guerierrez Valencia for the record. At

5:00 p.m., HSCA staff members interviewed Lynn Duran,

aka Lydia Duran, for the record.

On June 6, 1978 at 11:00 a.m., the HSCA staff inter-

viewed Ruben Duran for the record. At 1:00 p.m.. the

staff representatives met with Commandate Ventura about

unfinished business. The staff representatives agreed

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93

to supply the Mexicans with questions for two witnesses

who. could not then be interviewed. Commandate Ventura

authorized Honorio Escondon to interview Oscar Contreras

Latrigue and Ernesto Leffel Miller.. At 5:00 p.m., the

wife of Ruben Duran, Betty Serratos, was interviewed for

the record. At 5:45 p.m., Silvia Duran was interviewed

for the record.

The HSCA staff representatives left Mexico City

at 8:30 a.m. on June 7, 1978, arriving in Washington,

D.C. at 5:30 p.m., Washington time.

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Appendix 3: HSCA Procedural Write-up Mexico Trip 2

House Select Committee staffers Edwin Juan Lopez

and Harold Leap traveled to Mexico City on August 7,

1978.

The staff members were met by David I. Patton

at the Mexican airport at 10:15 p.m. Mr. Patton

then checked the staffers into Room 1754 at the Maria

Isabel Hotel in Steinfield,: CIA Chief of Station in

Mexico City, wished to see us at 8:30 a.m. the following

morning.

On Tuesday, August 8, 1978, Committee staffers

met with Larry Sternfield. He informed the staffers

that the two individuals.the Committee wished to inter-

view, Daniel Flores, aka Luis Aparicio and Ramon Alvarez

Durant, were now available.

At 9:30 a.m., August 8, 1978, Committee staff mem-

bers interviewed Danny Flores.

(See write-up of Danny

Flores interview.) The interview ended at approximately

10:15

a.m.

Committee staff members returned to Mr. Sternfield's

office, Mr. Sternfield stated that it appeared the GOC

had only been able to locate two witnesses for the Com-

mittee, Oscar Contreras Lartigue and Noe W. Palomares.

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He asked the staff members whom they wished to speak to.

The Committee staff members explained that they would

like to interview Lichant I, Licookie I, LiHuff I,

Litamail 7 and Litamil 9. Mr. Steinfield stated that

it appeared that the House Select Committee on Assassina-

tions had already asked the Mexicans to locate them.

Mr. Steinfield stated that the HSCA's interview

with Ramon Alvarez Duran was considered "highly sensi-

tive." He explained that three rooms at a nearby hotel

would be used. In one room, Ramon Alvarez Durant would

sit, Committee staff members would sit in a second room

and two CIA personnel officers would insure that the

equipment worked properly in a third room. Mr. Stein-

field then phoned Mr. Niles Gooding, who had been sent

to the Mexico City Station from Headquarters to arrange

the procedures for the interviews. Mr. Gooding explained

that in 1977 Stansfield Turner had created a new posi-

tion at Headquarters.to insure that important sensitive

meetings were within the guidelines previously arranged.

MI. Gooding stated that the Central Intelligence Agency

had been under greater Congressional scrutiny than the

past two years. Therefore, Director Turner, in order to

demonstrate the Agency's good faith, had engaged a retired

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Army officer to act as liaison at sensitive interviews

by Congressional representatives. Mr. Gooding then ex-

plained that we would be escorted by two CIA personnel

to our interview with Ramon Alvarez Durant.

At 10:55 a.m., August 8, 1978, Committee staff mem-

bers interviewed Ramon Alvarez Durant. (See Ramon Al-

varez Durant interview write-up.)

At 12:30 p.m., Committee staff members telephoned

Captain Fernandez Ventura Gutierrez. His secretary

explained that Mr. Ventura was not in the office, but

that she would have him call us when he returned. At

6:30 p.m., since Mr. Ventura had not yet returned the

staffer's call, they again called his office. His

Se-

cretary apologized for Mr. Ventura and explained that he

had not yet returned to the office and she assured us

that he would telephone upon his return. At 9:15 p.m.,

DI. Jesus Yanez, the Assistant to the official mayor,

telephoned the staff members explaining that Mr. Ventura

was very busy on an important assignment and asked us

to visit the Procuraduria General at 11:00

a.m. the

following morning.

At 10:15 a.m., August 9, 1978, Committee staff

members met with State Department Official Richard Howard

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to alert him that the Committee would request the Mexi-

can officials to make Silvia Duran available

in Washing-

ton for an HSCA hearing. Mr. Howard explained that

once we had permission from the Mexican government the

State Department would insure that she was in Washington

when necessary.

At 11:00 a.m., August 9, 1978, Committee staff

members met with Dr. Jesus Yanez and Ciprianio Martinez

Novoa. Mr: Yanez: told Committee staff members that

Ciprianio Martinez Novoa, the Mexican agent in charge,

would try to aid us in all our interviews. Mr. Martinez

then briefed the Committee staff members on their up-to-

date progress:

Oscar Contreras Lartigue had been located and pre-

interviewed by Mr. Martinez in Tampico, Mexico.

We

would fly to Tampico on Friday, August 11, 1978 at 7:35

a.m. to interview him.

Noe W. Palomares had been located and could be

interviewed during the afternoon of Thursday, August 10,

1978 at his office, Cerrada de la Presa 4. His phone

number, 595-0891, was made available to the Committee.

June Cobb Sharp received a tourist permit, number

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72781, on June 27, 1947. She entered Mexico through

Nuevo Lardo, Texas.

She requested but was denied

permission by the Mexican government to represent the

magazine, Modern Mexico. On June 21, 1948, she re-

ceived a courtesy permit, number 25556. She disappeared

in 1954 and never returned to Mexico.

The Committee staffers did not tell the Mexicans

that the House Select Committee on Assassinations had

evidence from review of June Cobb's 201 file that she

was in Mexico in the Sixties.

Eunice Odio Infante, a Costa Rican, received a

three-month tourist permit from the Mexican government

on February 9, 1964. She remained in Mexico, illegally

residing at Nacas-45-a, until 1972. She applied to

write for the Excelsior magazine on many different oc-

casions, but was rejected every time. In 1972, Ms.

Odio married a Communist painter, Rudolfo Sanabria Gon-

zalez and moved to Rio Neba-16 Apartment 40. .. On May 24,

1972, Ms. Odio was. found dead in her bathtub. The offi-

cial presiding at her autopsy concluded that Ms. Odio

had poisoned herself.

Emilio Carballido Fontanes was in Caracas, Venezuela,

on vacation and scheduled to return to Mexico in early

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September.

His address is Constituyentes 207. His

phone number is 515-8345.

Consuelo Esperon's personnel record in Mexico

could not be located. When the Mexican officials in-

quired about her at the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City

to the committee's trip, no one at the office

remembered that she had worked there. Committee staff

members were told that Esperon was probably dead. No

basis was given for the Mexican government's conclusion.

Al Wichtrich worked at Royal Crown Cola until

1968 when its offices in Mexico closed.

Carlos Jurado J. Delmar was born in Cuba on

November 3, 1927. He entered Mexico July 1, 1965 and

taught Graphics and Art at U.N.A.M. until January 1,

1968 when he disappeared. The Mexican officials assume

that he returned to Cuba.

General

Jesus Jose Clark Flores died in the early

1970's.

Ernesto Lehfeld Miller, Academic Coordinator at

the School.of Interior Design, had not yet been located.

Luis

Alberue Suoto lives at Michelet #7, Apartment

#301, Colonia Aneura, Mexico City. His phone number is

545-9947. The landlady at his apartment explained to

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the Mexican officials that Mr. Alberue had left town

hurriedly on Monday, August 7, 1978. Mr. Martinez,

wishing to know when he returned, had placed a piece of

scotch tape on the bottom right edge of his door. Mr.

Martinez explained that he checked it every four hours

and would notify us if Alberue returned before we left.

Manuel Calvillo did not live at Cuahtemoc 877-5

as the Committee had stated. The landlady for the past

twenty-five years at the apartments told Mr. Martinez

that Manuel Calvillo had never resided there. Committee

staff members explained that Calvillo went by a pen name

which would be forwarded to the Mexican officials the

following morning.

When Committee staff members inquired whether

Ms. Silvia Tirado Bazan could testify at an HSCA hearing,

the Mexican officials stated that they would have an

answer for the staffers by Friday morning. The Mexican

officials explained that they would have to speak to

her to insure that she was willing to travel to Washing-

ton.

On Thursday, August 10, 1978, at 11:00 a.m. the

Committee staff members met with Dr. Jesus Yanez, Agent

Ciprianio Martinez Novoa, Captain Florentino Ventura

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Gutierrez and Attorney General Licensiado,

Manuel Calvillo's "pen name" was given to the Mexicans

who stated that they would check it with the landlady.

at his alleged apartment building.

Committee staffers returned to their hotel room

with Agent Ciprianio Martinez Novoa after the meeting.

Agent Martinez attempted without success to telephone

Oscar Contreras Lartigue to inform him of our visit.

At 3:30 p.M., Agent Martinez finally reached Mr. Contreras'

child who informed him that Mr. Contreras was not in

Tampico. He had traveled to Mexico City for a Partido

Republicano Institucional convention. When Agent Mar-

tinez asked the child if he knew where his father was

staying in Mexico City, he responded that he did

not.

Agent Martinez explained to the child that he would call

at a later time to speak to his mother.

Agent Martinez telephoned Noe W. Palomares at 4:00

p.m. and arranged an interview for 6:30 p.m. that even-

ing. Mr. Martinez asked Committee staff members to

meet him at his office at the Procuraduria General at

6:00 p.m.

At 6:00 p.m., August 10, 1978, Committee staff

members met Agent Ciprianio Martinez at the Procuraduria

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General at 6:00 p.m.

At 6:00 p.m., August 10, 1978, Committee staff

members met Agent Ciprianio Martinez at the Procuraduria

General. Martinez then drove the HSCA representatives

to Mr. Palmoares' office. At 6:30 p.m., Committee

staff members interviewed Noe W. Palomares. (See Noe

W. Palomares interview write-up.)

Following the interview Agent Martinez returned

to the Maria Isabel Hotel with Committee staff members.

He attempted to reach Mrs. Contreras telephonically at

Tampico twice without success. At 9:45 p.m., he finally

contacted her. Mrs. Contreras told Agent Martinez

that Mr. Oscar Contreras had told her that he would

try to get a room at either the Hotel Regis or Hotel

San Francisco. Mrs. Contreras explained that since

there were a few conventions scheduled in Mexico City

that weekend she could not assure that he would be at

either. Mrs. Contreras told Agent Martinez that she

would notify him if her husband should call.

Mr. Martinez called both hotels and niquired whether

Oscar Contreras Lartigue was registered. He was not

registered at either; they were completely booked up.

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Mr. Martinez attempted to reach by telephone Silvia

Tiardo Bazan

at her home to ask her whether she would be wil-

ling to travel to Washington to testify at a HSCA hearing

and to ask if she knew where Mr. Ernesto Lehfeld Miller

could be located. She was not at home, however.

Agent Martinez explained that he would attempt to

locate Oscar Contreras. Lartige Lartige at the hotel where

the Partido Republicano Institucional was holding its con-

vention early the following morning; after which he would

meet the staff members at 9:30 a.m. at their hotel room.

At 9:45 a.m., August 11, 1978, Agent Martinez

met Committee staffers at their hotel room and explained

that he was unable to locate Mr. Contreras Lartigue at

the convention. Mr. Martinez then left to check the

whereabouts of Mr. Alberue Suoto and Silvia Tirado Bazan.

At 12:30 p.M., August 11, 1978, Agent Martinez re-

turned to the Committee staff members' hotel room. He tele-

phoned Mrs. Contreras in Tampico who stated that her husband

had not telephoned her since she had last spoken to Agent

Martinez. At 1:50 p.m., another agent, Honorio Escondon,

telephoned Agent Martinez at the Committee staffers' hotel

room to inform him that Luis Alberue Suoto must be back in

town because the scotch tape placed at the base of his

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entranceway door.was no longer in place.

At 1:55 p.m.,

Agent Martinez telephoned Luis Alberue Sutoto. During the

phone conversation, Alberue denied that he had worked at

the Cuban: Embassy in the Sixties, stated that he knew

nothing about the assassination and declined the Committee

staff members' request to interview him.

At 2:00 p.M.r. August 11, 1978, Agent Martinez tele-

phoned Silvia Duran. Agent Martinez then gave the tele-

phone to Committee staffer Lopez. Mr. Lopez ask Ms. Tirado

whether she would be willing to testify sometime in Septem-.

ber at a Committee hearing in Washington; she answered

affirmatively. She stated that September 13th, 14th and

15th would not be "good days" because the Mexican Revolution

celebration would be taking place and she was a planner and

participant. When Mr. Lopez asked Ms. Tirado if she knew

Mr. Ernesto Lehfeld Miller's phone number, she stated that

she did not., but she stated that if we telephoned her ex-

husband Horatio at either 516-0398 or 515-8621, he would

be able to help us.

At 2:15 p.m., Committee staffer Lopez telephoned

Horatio Duran, who gave him Ernesto Lehfeld Miller's of-

fice phone number, 548-4839. At 2:20 p.M., Lopez telephoned

Mr. Miller and arranged a meeting for 9:00 p.m. that evening.

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At 2:30 p.m., Agent Martinez telephoned Capitan

Ventura to report on his progress, pertaining to his work •

with the HSCA. When Martinez told Ventura that he had

located Alberue, Ventura asked him if he was alone. When

Agent Martinez lied and stated that he was alone, Ventura

told him that he should under no circumstances allow us

to interview Alberue. When Agent Martinez completed his

phone call, he said, "I don't understand why nobody wants

you to talk to him."

At 9:. p.M, August 11, 1978, Committee staffers

interviewed Ernesto Lehfeld Miller. (See Ernesto Lehfeld

Miller interview write-up.)

At 11:15 a.m., August 12, 1978, Committee staffer

Lopez called Luis Alberue Suoto at his home. When Mr.

Lopez identified himself, Mr. Alberue immediately stated

that he knew nothing. He further stated that he never worked

for the Cuban Embassy. When Lopez explained to him that

employees at the Cuban Embassy had stated that he had been

employed there, Mr. Suoto hung up. Mr. Alberue's voice

quivered throughout the short talk.

At 11:45 a.m., Silvia Tirado called Lopez and stated

that she had thought all night about travelling to Washington.

She said she had seen a report in the newspapers in which

Azcue had stated that the man who visited the Cuban Consulate

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in 1963 was not Lee Harvey Oswald. She stated that Azcue

had only seen Oswald once while she had seen Oswald "at

least three times." When Lopez said, "At least three

times?" Ms: Tirado said. "Three times, you know?"

She

further stated that if she testified in Washington and

the Committee concluded that she was lying she would be

crucified when she returned to Mexico. Mr. Lopez reassured

her and explained that when he returned to Washington he

would send her a long letter explaining procedures.

At 12:05 p.M., Agent Martinez met the Committee

staff members at the airport. He stated that Contreras

and Calvillo had not been located. The Committee staffers

gave Martinez a list of questions to ask Oscar Contreras

Lartigue. Agent Martinez stated that he would mail the

results of the interview to Lopez at the Committee offices

in Washington. The Committee never received any interview

reports from the Mexican government.

The Committee staff members left Mexico City at

1:55 p.m. and arrived at Washington's Dulles Airport at

10:35 p.m.

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Appendix 4: HSCA Procedural Write-up

Cuba Trip 2

On August 25, 1978, Congressman Richardson Preyer

and HSCA staff members G. Robert Blakey and Edwin Juan

Lopez Soto traveled

to Cuba from Miami at 8:25 a.m. on

an Air-Taxi Service charter plane.

The Committee repre-

sentatives arrived in Cuba at 10:15 a.m. They were met

by the Minister of Justice, Armondo Torres Snatrayll;

Washington Consul Ricardo Escartin; American Department

official, Senen Buergo; and translator, Nellie Ruiz de

Zarade. The Committee representatives were escorted to

their suite, room number 2003, at the Hotel Riviera at

11:00 a.m.

At 12:15 p.m., the Committee representatives met

with Ricardo Escartin, Felipe Villa, Senen Buergo and

translators Juanita Vera and Nellie Ruiz de Zarade. Also

present were two Cuban stenographers. Senen Buergo,

the spokesperson, welcomed the Committee representatives

to Cuba and thanked the Committee for its correspondence.

Mr. Buergo apologized on behalf of the Cuban government

for the postponement of previously scheduled trips of

May 24th and 25th, 1978.

Mr. Buergo stressed that in his

opinion there was

a conspiracy to link Cuba to the assassina-

tion of John F. Kennedy.

At that point, he haded four files

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to Congressman Richardson Preyer. The files consisted of:

a) material concerning Santo Trafficante, b) a letter

dated 25 November 1963 from Hernandez Armas: to Raul Roa;

c) the results of the Cuban government's research into

mis-information linking the Cuban Government to the assas-

sination of President John F. Kennedy; and d) the report

of the Investigative Committee of the International Tri-

bunal of the Eleventh Festival reporting on the defamation

campaign to link Cuba to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Mr. Buergo stated that both Eusebio Azcue Lopez

and Alfredo Mirabal Diaz would that day be made available

for interviews. Mr. Buergo stated that Nilo Otero would

be made available for interview the following day, 26 August

197,8. Mr. Buergo stated that Rogelio Rodriguez was pre-

sently stationed in West Germany. Bruego stated that Ricardo

Escartin previously interviewed Mr. Rodriguez and was

told by Rodriguez that he had had no contact with Lee Har-

vey Oswald. Mr. Buergo stated that if the Committee still

desired to interview

Rodriguez, he would be made available

to the Committee. Mr. Buergo stated that an interview with

Rolando Cubela Secades would be arranged.

Mr. Buergo asked if the Committee was still inter-

ested in interviewing Orestes Guillermo Ruiz Perez. Mr.

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Buergo stated that the Cuban government

had no record

of a citizen named Griselle Rubio. Mr. Buergo inquired

whether the Committee representatives were interested in

watching the videotaped statements of James Wilcott and

Phillip Agee at the Tribunal. Congressman Preyer

responded that the Commitee's representatives would want

to view the Wilcott and Agee videotaped statements.

Mr. Buergo stated that our schedule included dinner

with the Minister of Justice at 8:00 p.m. on 25 August

1978, fishing on 27 August 1978 (Sundad), and a farewell

dinner on 28 August 1978.

Congressman Preyer thanked the Cuban officials for

making both the documents and witnesses available to the

Select Committee.

Professor Blakey stated that the Committee was no

longer interested in interviewing Rolando Cuebela.

Mr.

Blakey stated that Griselle Rubio had been found and inter-

viewed by a Committee investigator. Mr. Blakey stated

that the Committee wanted to interview Oreste Guillermo

Ruiz Perez for two reasons: he worked at the Cuban Embassy

in September 1963 when Oswald allegedly visited the Cuban

compound in Mexico City; and, he is married to the cousin

of a counter-revolutionary, Antonio Veciana Blanch. Mr.

Blakey stated that Rogelio Rodriguez need not be interviewed.

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Captain Felipe Villa stated that the Cuban govern-

ment, relying on the seriousness and honesty of the Commit-

tee's work, thought that the Committee should have know-

ledge of Cubela's statements. Mr. Villa stated that the

Commitee still needed to provide the Cuban government

with the following: a) a workable formula on counter-revolu-

tionaries that could be used by the Cuban government to

aid the Committee in its investigation of such organiza-

tions; b) copies of Lee Harvey Oswald's signatures that

the. Cuban government could use to perform its own hand-

writing comparison test; c) E. Howard Hunt's aliases;

and d) public information of interest to the Cuban govern-

ment that the Committee could provide without violating

its rules.

Mr. Blakey stated that examples of Lee Harvey Os-

wald's handwriting would be forthcoming. Mr. Blakey stated

that the Committee had not yet developed a formula for

identifying counter-revolutionary groups active against

the Cuban government in 1963 or a method for providing

E. Howard Hunt's aliases. Mr. Blakey stressed that both

these areas would be discussed in

the Committee's final

report.

2060442

At 1:00 p.m. the first work session ended.

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At 3:15 p.m. House Select Committee on Assassinations

representatives interviewed Juan Nilo Otero in Room 2003

of the Hotel Riviera.

Present were Congressman Richardson

Preyer, G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juan Lopez Soto, Senen

Buergo, Ricardo Escartin, Captain Felipe Villa, translator

Juanita Vera and two stenographers. (See Juan Nilo Otero

interview transcript.) The interview ended at 5:15 p.m.

At 8:00 p.m. the Committee's representatives met

Senen Buergo and translator Nellie Ruiz de Zarade at the

Hotel Riviera's lobby. The group was chauffered to the

Bodeguita del Medio--one of Cuba's most famous restaurants--

where they dined with the Minister of Justice, Armando

Torres Santrayll.

At 10:15 a.m., 26 August 1978, Select Committee re-

presentatives interviewed Alfredo Mirabal Diaz in Room 2003

at the Hotel Riviera. Present were Congressman Richardson

Preyer, G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juan Lopez Soto, Senen

Buergo, Captain Felipe Villa, Ricardo Escartin, translators

Juanita Vera and Nellie Ruiz. de Zarade and two stenographers.

(See Alfredo Mirabal Diaz interview transcript.) The

interview ended at 12:45 p.m.

After the Mirabal interview Mr. Buergo asked whether

the HSCA representatives wished to interview Jose Veradcia

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Verdacia, the Warden of Trascornia while Santos Traffi-

cantewas a detainee. When Congressman Richardson Preyer

stated that the Committee would indeed be interested in

interviewing Jose Verdacia Verdacia, Mr. Burego stated

that he would be avilable for an interview at 3:00 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m., HSCA representatives interviewed

Jose Verdacia Verdacia in Room 2003 of the Hotel Riviera.

Present were

• Congressman Richardson Preyer, G. Robert

Blakey, Edwin Juan Lopez Soto, Senen Buergo, Captain

Felipe Villa, Ricardo Escartin, Aramis Gutierrez, trans-

lators Juanita Vera and Nellie Ruiz de Zarade, and two

stenegraphers. (See Jose Verdacia Verdacia interview

transcript.) The interview ended at 4:20 p.m.

On Sunday morning, 27 August 1978, the Cuban Govern-

ment's representatives took the Select Committee represen-

tatives to Veradero Beach.

At 8:35 p.m. Select Committee representatives

interviewed Orestes Guillermo Ruiz Perez at the Hotel In-

ternacional at Veradero Beach. Present were Congressman

Richardson Preyer, G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juna Lopez

Soto, Ricardo Escartin, Gaptain Felipe Villa, Senen Buergo

and translator Juanita Vera. (See Orestes Guillermo Ruiz

Perez interview transcript.) Because there were no steno-

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graphers present the Cuban representatives tape-recorded

the interview. The interview ended at 9:20 p.m.

On 28 August 1978, at 10:25 a.m., HSCA representa-

tives interviewed Rolando Cubela Secades in Room 2003 at

the Hotel Riviera. Present were Congressman Richardson

Preyer, G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juan Lopez Soto, Ricardo

Escartin, Captain Felipe Villa, Senen Buergo, translator

Juanita Vera and Nellie Ruiz de Zarade, and two stenogra,

phers.

Also present was Antonio Hernandez who escorted

Mr. Cubela from prison to the Hotel. (See Rolando Cubela

Secades interview transcript.) The interview ended

at

11:45 p.m.

At 3:25 p.m., HSCA representatives interviewed

Maria Teresa Proenza y Proenza in Room 2003 of the Hotel

Riviera. Present were Congressman Richardson Preyer,

G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juan Lopez Soto, Ricardo Escartin,

Captain Felipe Villa, Senen Buergo, Antonio Hernandez,

translator Nellie Ruiz de Zarade and two stenographers.

(See Maria Teresa Proenza y Proenza interview transcript.)

The interview ended at 4:15 p.m.

On 29 August 1978, at 9:30 a.m., the HSCA repre-

sentatives met the Cuban delegation for a fnal work ses-

sion in Room 2003 of the Hotel Riviera. Present were Con-

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gressman Richardon Preyer, G. Robert Blakey, Edwin Juan

Lopez, Ricardo Escartin, Senen Buergo, Captain Felipe

Villa, translators Juanita Vera and Nellie Ruiz de Zarade

and

two stenographers.

The Cuban delegation spokesperson, Senen Buergo,

explained that Mr. Manuel Piniero was out of the country

and therefore an interview could not be arranged. Mr.

Buergo explained that the Cuban delegation had located

Luisa Calderon but because she was ill an interview could

not be arranged. Mr. Buergo suggested that the HSCA

forward questions to the Cuban Government. Ms. Calderon's

answers would then be forwarded to the Committee.

Mr. Buergo explained that Raul Roa had a very busy

schedule. Mr. Road, feeling that he could not add any

more information to what Nilo Otero had already provided,

declined the interview.

Material handed to the HSCA representatives at

this time included:

a list of persons whom the Cuban delegation be-

lieved to have had close relationships with

Santo Trafficante;

b) photographs depicting what the Cuban government

believed to be a Central Intelligence Agency

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photographic surveillance base targeted

against the Cuban Consulate and Embassy in

Mexico City during 1963;

c) an essay entitled "Imperialism's Political,

Ecnomic, and Military Organizations and Agen-

cies of Crime, such

as the CIA" and

d) an article entitled "Finally We Have Eliminated

That Pinho in the White House, said Bob, When

He Heard About JFK's Assassination"

The final work session ended at 11:00 a.m.

At 1:00 p.m, the Cuban delegation escorted the Com-

mittee's representatives to the airport. At the airport

they were big farewell by the Minister of Justice, Armando

Torres Santrayll, Senen Buergo, Juanita Vera and Nellie

Ruiz de Zarade.

At 3:30 p.m., the HSCA representatives and Washing-

ton Consul, Ricardo Escartin, departed Cuba.

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VII. Analysis of Lee Harvey Oswald's activities in Mexico

City

A. Introduction

After-the Warren Commission investigation published

its report two very important allegations related to Lee

Harvey Oswald's activities in Mexico. City have come to

the attention of the United States investigative agencies.

In 1964, Elena Garro de Paz reported that she had seen Lee

Harvey Oswald, accompanied by two other men, at a party

at the home of Ruben Duran Navarro, the brother-in-law of

Silvia Duran. (See Section VI, C.) In 1967, Oscar Con-

treras Lartigue reported that he met Lee Harvey Oswald on

the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

(UNAM)

(See Section VI, D, above.)

In addition, the testimony of the Warren Commission's

primary witness related to Mexico City, Silvia Tirado Duran,

has been called into question. (See Warren Report pp. 299-

304, 733-736; and Sections I, B, V, C, and VI, A, above.)

Some of the information that is inconsistent with Ms. Duran's

original story, that Oswald visited the Cuban Consulate on

two occasions, which were the only times she saw him, was

available at the time of the Warren Commission's inquiry

although it was ignored; some of the information has developed

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after the publication of the Warren Report. (See Sections

•V, C and VI, A and B respectively for details.)

The Garro and Contreras allegations in conjunction

with the weakening. of Ms. Duran's story raise three major

questions: did Lee Harvey Oswald or an imposter visit the

Cuban Consulate in Mexico City?; other than his visits

to the Cuban Consulate, what

were Lee Harvey Oswald's acti-

vities in Mexico City?; and, was Lee Harvey Oswald travel-

ling alone in Mexico? (These three questions do, of course,

overlap somewhat in detail. For example, if Oswald was

not tarveling alone, did one of his companions impersonate

him at the Cuban Consulate? Each of the three questions

will be dealt with in separate sections below. If the dis-

cussion at times seems

slightly redundent it is because

that

is an unavoidable side-effect of the interrelatedness

of the questions.)

In an attempt to answer the questions posed above

the House Select Committee on Assassinations has: 1) inter-

viewed Mexican and Cuban citizens who could have knowledge

of Oswald's visits to the Cuban Consulate; 2) Interviewed

Mexican citizens who could have knowledge of Oswald's ac=

tivities and associations in Mexico City; 3) Conducted an

extensive review of the files of the Central Intelligence

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Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that pertain

to Oswald's sojourn in Mexico City.

B. Did Lee Harvey Oswald or an Imposter Contact

the Cuban and Soviet Consulates in Mexico City?

Lee Harvey Oswald himself probably visited the Cuban

Consulate at least once since his application for a Cuban

intransit visa bears his signature. (Cite to Handwriting

analysis.) Though the Cuban Consulate allowed visa appli-

cants to take blank. applications out of the Consulate to

be returned when completed, Silvia Duran was certain that

Oswald signed the application in her presence. (HSCA Inter-

view of Silvia Duran, 6/6/78, JFK Document #311681, pp. 31-

33.) Oswald's signature on the Cuban visa application,

however, does not by itself rule out the possibility

that someone impersonated Oswald. in contacts with the

Cuban and Soviet Embassies.

An analysis of the telephone conversations which

the CIA's Mexico City Station intercepted by…tapping the

Soviet Consulate and the Soviet Military Attache's tele-

phone reveals that someone, later identified as Oswald,

visited the Cuban Consulate at least two times and the

Soviet Consulate at least thress times. (See Sections II,

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c, III, A, 1, and III, B, 2, above.) On September 27,

1963, at 4:05 p.m. Silvia Duran called the Soviet Consulate.

In this conversation she refers to an American seeking an

intransit visa to Cuba. The substantive information given›

indicates that she is discussing Oswald. (See Section III,

B, 2, above.) At this time the individual using Oswald's

name has been at the Soviet Embassy

at least once already

since Silvia requests the name of the Soviet Embassy offi-

cial who dealt with the American. (CIA Transcript from

the Russian Embassy, 9/27/63.) Silvia also stated that

the American is, at that time, in the Cuban Consulate.

(Ibid.) At 4:26 p.m. a Soviet Consular official returned

Silvia Duran's call. This official states specifically

that Oswald had visited the Soviet Consulate. (Ibid.)

On September 28, 1963, at 11:51 a.m. Silvia Duran

called the Soviet Consulate. (Ibid.) She put the Ameri-

can, later identified as Oswald, on the telephone. (Ibid.)

The American, who was at the Cuban Consulate at the time,

said that he had just been at the Soviet Consulate. (Ibid.)

The conversation ends with the American stating that he

was returning to the Soviet Consulate. (CIA Transcript

from the Russian Embassy, 9/28/63.)

Analysis of Silvia Duran's and Eusebio Azcue's

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stories would tend to indicate that Oswald, or someone

impersonating him, visited the Cuban Consulate at least

one and possibly two additional times on September 27,

1963.

Silvia Duran says that Oswald first visited the

Cuban Consulate at approximately 11:00 a.m. requesting

an intransit visa to Cuba with Russia as the final de-

stination. (Duran Interview, 6/6/78, JFK Document #011681.)

Ms. Duran sent Oswald to obtain photographs that he needed

for the visa application. (Ibid., p. 20-23.) Eusebio

Azcue recalls that this visit probably occured on the

date on the visa application, 9/27/63. (Public testimony

of Eusebio Azcue, 9/18/78, p. 36.)

Although unlikely, if

someone impersonated Oswald

in Mexico, it is possible that the individual's first

visit occured before Oswald's arrival. It is unlikely

because such actions would have been poor tradecraft.)

Ms. Duran also stated that Oswald returned at ap-

proximately 1:00 p.m. with four photographs. (Duran In-

terview, 6/6/78, JFK Document #011681, p. 23.) Eusebio

Azcue also stated that the individual later identified

as Oswald returned to the Cuban Consulate about 1:00 p.m.

with the photographs probably on "the date that appears

on the application, that is to say on the 27th." (Public

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Testimony of Eusebio Azcue, 9/18/78, p. 32-33) The argu-

ment between Azcue and the individual probably occured

during this visit. (See Sections V, C, and VI, B, above.)

Ms. Duran stated that Oswald's third, and last visit,

occured in the late afternoon after working hours on the

27th. (Duran Interview, 6/6/78, JFK DoC.

#011681, p. 37.)

This visit is confirmed by the CIA's tap on the Soviet

Consulate. (See above.) '

IN addition to the alleged Oswald visits to the Con-

sulates, there were other telephonic contacts that may

have been between Oswald, or an imposter, and the Consulates.

(See Sections III, A, 1, and III, B, above.)

Several details about Oswald's visits to the Cuban

Consulate, and telephonic contacts with both Consulates

indicate that the individual involved was not Oswald.

Sivlia Duran's description of Oswald did not

resemble Oswald's true physical appearance. (HSCA Inter-

view of Silvia Duran, 6/6/78, JFK DOC. #01668; Cite also

early report. See Section V, C for details.)

This

description, which appeared early in the reporting of in-

formation obtained from Ms. Duran was deleted from subse-

quent reports and was not at all mentioned in the Warren

Report. See Sections V, C, for details.) Eusebio Azcue's

description of Oswald was similar to Silvia Duran's, but

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more détailed.

(Azcue cite.) Perhaps the most remarkable

thing about these descriptions is their similarity to

Elena Garra de Paz' description of one of Oswald's alleged

companions.

(See Section VI, C, above and VII, B, below.)

(NOTE: add blond man on Knoll if found.)

Another possible indication that an imposter, as

well as Oswald, visited the Consulate is the 9/28/63 inter-

cepted conversation. Silvia Duran adamantly denies that

Oswald visited the Cuban. Consulate on Saturday, September

28, 1963. In light of the CIA intercept of that date,

Ms. Duran has either lied to the Committee or the individual

who visited the Consulate on September I8 was not Oswald.

(Note: the CIA's classification of the transcript. of this

conversation prevented the HSCA from directly confronting

Ms. Duran with the information.) Ms. Duran, in light of

the inconsistencies detailed in Sections V, C and VI, A

above, may not be the most credible witness but there are

indications that she was truthful when she stated that Os-

wald did not visit the Consulate on September 28. The

September 28, 1963 conversation was linked to Oswald be-

cause of the marginal notations made by the CIA translator

on the transcript. (See Sections II, C, 4 3 and III, A, 1

above.) The translator noted on the transcript that the

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caller spoke "terrible, hardly recognizable Russian."

(Cite transcript.) On October 1, 1963, a man called

the Soviet Consulate and identified himself as "Lee Os-

wald." (Cite transcript.) This man also stated that he

had been at the Consulate on Saturday, the 28th. (Ibid.)

The translator noted that this was the same man who had

called the Consulate "a day or so ago" and had spoken

in broken Russian. From this information, and possibly

a voice comparison (see

Section IV, B, above) the 9/28

caller was identified as Oswald. The problem with assum-

ing that the caller on 9/28 and 10/9 was Oswald is that

Oswald spoke fluent Russian. (Cites.) Granted, Ms.

Duran's denial of the Saturday visit and the proficiency

of the caller's Russian is not sufficient evidence to

conclude that the person who visited the Cuban Consulate

on Saturday and who called the Soviet Consulate on Satur-

day and on October Ist was an imposter:. Yet the informa-

tion is sufficient to seriously question the assumption

that it was Oswald, especially in light of Azcue's: and Duran's

descriptions and Elena Garro de Paz's story.

Three calls that also occured early on September

27, 1963, may have been made by an imposter. At approxi-

mately 10:30 a.m. a man called the Soviet Military Attache

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looking for a visa to Odessa and was referred to the So-

viet Consulate. At 10:37 a.m. a man called the Soviet

Consulate and asked for a visa to Odessa. He was told

to call back at 11:00. At 1:25 p.m. a man called the

Consul between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. that day.

while only the callers' requests for a visa to

Russia (Odessa) connect these calls to Oswald, the HSCA

believes that they do fit logically into a time sequence

created by what is known from testimony and the electronic

intercepts about his actions on that day. The following

is a reasonable possible chronology of Oswald's actions

on 9/27/63 based on analysis of the available evidence.

Oswald probably arrived in Mexico around 10:00 a.m. on

September 27. (Cite WR.) By 10:30 Oswald had time to

arrive at the Hotel del Comercio and to place a

call to

the Soviet Military Attache. who. referred him to the Consul.

The military attache also gave the caller directions to

the Consuläte.

durina the 10:37 a.m. call to the Con-

sulate the caller learned that he could contact the Consul

at 11:00 a.m. This done, Oswald then went to the Cuban

Consulate where he arrived around 11:00 a.m. (HSCA Inter-

view with Silvia Duran, 6/6/78. JFK Doc. #011681, p. 31.)

This meeting only lasted approximately fifteen minutes i

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(public testimony of Alfredo Mirabel Diaz, 9/18/78, p. 119.)

and sent Oswald to obtain photographs and to the Russian

Embassy to get the necessary Russian visa. (HSCA Inter=

view of Silvia Duran, 6/6/78, JFK Doc. #11681, p. 23.)

Oswald returned to the Cuban Consulate around 1:00 p.m.

(Ibid., p. 31.) At this point he had his encounter with

Azcue and completed this VISA application. (Ibid.) Oswald

probably realized at this point that he would have prob-

lems obtaining the visas. After this visit to the Cuban

Consulate, which lasted approximately Fifteen minutes

(Public testimony of Alfredo Mirabal Diaz, 9/18/78, p. 119)

Oswald tried to contact the Soviet Consul whom Oswald

claimed had assured him that he would have no problems

obtaining a visa. (Cite.) Hence, the 1:25 call. During

this conversation Oswald learned that the Consul would

be in that evening between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Os-

wald returned to the Cuban Consulate at 4:00 and persuaded

Silvia Duran to intercede with the Soviet Consul on his

behalf. (HSCA Interview of Silvia Duran, 6/6/78, JFK DOC.

#01168, p. 37.)

Hence, the 4:05 and 4:26 p.m. calls in-

volving Duran.

But there is a problem with attributing the first

three calls on September 27, 1963 to Oswald. The conversa-

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tions are all in Spanish. With the exception of Delgado

the evidence indicates that Oswald did not speak Spanish.

(Cites.)

Hence, either the above-detailed calls were not

made by Oswald or Oswald could speak English.

There is not enough evidence to firmly conclude

that some one did impersonate Oswald in Mexico. On the..

other hand, the evidence is

of such a nature that the pos-

sibility cannot be dismissed.

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