LETTER TO DAVID W. BELIN FROM E. H. KNOCHE RE INTERIM RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IN YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 15

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01481961
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: April 23, 1975

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
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OFFICE OF TUE DIRECTOR
Ilav � "1
23 April 1975
Mr. David W. Belin
Executive Director
Commission on CIA Activities
Within the United States
Dear Mr. Belin:
This is a partial, interim response to
questions in your letter of April 15 concerning
Lee Harvey Oswald.
Further details, as stated in the attached
and as discussed between you and Mr. Rocca,
are in process of compilation.
Attachment: a/s
Faithfully yours,
E. H. I4che
Assistant to the Director
Classified by 014359
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Distribution.:
Drig - Mr. Belin. w/att
1 - nGC wo fatt
1 wo/att
1 - _A; wo/att
1 - Knoche Chrono wo/att
1 - Knoche Comm Correspondence wo/att
Belin Letter Request *File w/att
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22 April 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: DC/OPS
REFERENCE
Letter from David W. Belin, dated
15 April 1975, to Mr. L. Henry Knoche
dealing with a photograph of an
unidentified individual
1. This is an interim report. I believe that CIOPS
will be able to draw up eventually a full report on this
question. At the present time we have not completed the
total assembly of the references to this matter. However,
in anticipation of a final report, the following are
factual:
a. The Agency at no time in its
dealings with the FBI in the Field or with
the Warren Commission in Headquarters de-
scribed or suggested that the unknown in-
dividual whose photograph was taken in
Mexico City on 1 October was
Lee Harvey OSWALD.
b. Our total coverage of the unknown
individual numbers twelve photographs
taken on 1 October (USSR Embassy), 4 Octo-
ber (USSR Embassy) and 15 October
(Cuban Embassy). OSWALD left Mexico city,
it is known, at 0830 hours, 2 October.
It is clear, therefore, that this individual
could not be OSWALD.
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2
c. Mr. Helms, in a memorandum to the
Warren Commission Chief Counsel, indicated
very clearly that the photograph of this
unknown individual had nothing to do with the
OSWALD case. In the light of all of the facts
in the file, we find no reason to modify this
judgement.
2. The problems we have had with this photograph have
derived from Mrs. OSWALD, Sr.'s, belief that the photo-
graph shown to her in Dallas by the. FBI, by whom it had
been cropped, was a photograph of RUBY and that it had
been shown to her before the latter had killed her son.
This erroneous belief was dis6pelled later during her.
testimony before the Warren Commission. However, the
FBI at that time provided .a copy of the same photograph
cropped in a Slightly different way. All of these
problems were worked out satisfactorily with the .
Warren Commission. In the subsequent period private.indi-
viduals have attempted to develop the theory that the
photograph related materially to OSWALD or a Substitute
for OSWALD. '
3. Under the circumstances we agree with Mr. Belin
that it would be appropriate to consider surfacing the
entire matter factually at this time if this can be done
without violation of sources or methods.
4. It is proposed, therefore, that a full run of
all references to this matter be assembled (and we have
nearly completed that) and that, together with a chrono-
logical summary, be submitted to Mr. Belin for his con-
sideration and a determination in concord with LA Division
and other interested components of the Agency how much
can be released at this time.
5. I reviewed with Mr. Belin the facts and suggestion
stipulated above in a lengthy discussion and briefing
on the morning of 22 April, and he agreed with the proposed
course of action.
Raymorid G. Rocca
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