OS - KRONTHAL, JAMES SPEYER <SANITIZED>

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06619093
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2020
• Case Number: F-2013-01784
• Publication Date: September 29, 1989

Approved for Release: 2020/01/15 C06619093
CONF' TIT J--77�"r
29 September 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: KRONTHAL, James Speyer
1. On 26 September 1989, the undersigned
Samuel Papich at his home at
Papich was the FBI liaison t
the time Subject committed suicide. Papich wa
connection with this case. (C)
interviewed
o the Agency at
s interviewed in
2. Papich was shown several unclassified FBI documents
dealing with the Subject and asked about his part in the case.
He explained that the memoranda were reports from the FBI
Internal Security Division to the Assistant Director of the
FBI. Papich remembered that he was told about the Kronthal
suicide by then D/OS Sheffield Edwards. Papich then reported
it to his office by phone as part of his normal liaison
function. He stated categorically that there was no
information at the time and no investigation into Kronthal
being a "mole" or any other Soviet link. Papich stated; "If
there were even an inkling of a Soviet connection, that
information would have been a bombshell in both the Agency and
the FBI," and an investigation would have been launched. (C)
3. Papich said that, unlike today, when he was the FBI
liaison officer, he was liaison to the entire Agency. He had
meetings with every office in the Agency, all the deputy
directors, and even the DCI. He met almost weekly with Allen
Dulles and believes that the meeting on Dulles' calendar for 30
March 1953 was just such a meeting. He remembers no items of
consequence discussed at that meeting and certainly nothing
concerning "moles" or Kronthal. (C)
4. When queried on the subject of William Corson
Papich stated that he did not know Corson, and
spoken to Corson concerning the Kronthal incident.
saw nor knew Corson as an aide to DCI Dulles, even
Papich had weekly contact with Dulles. Papich also said
never met Corson during the Shadrin debriefings. (C)
never
never
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
had
He
though
he
CtiNT DENT I AL
Approved for Release: 2020/01/15 C06619093
Approved for Release: 2020/01/15 C06619093
CONFIDENTIAL
SUBJECT: KRONTHAL, James Speyer
5. Papich did, however, state that he had been telephoned
by Joseph Trento on 21 May 1988, vice the
interview date of 19 February 1988 as noted in "Widows."
(Papich produced a notebook containing details of the Trento
call, as well as other calls he has received.) He stated that
Trento did not get the quote concerning the rift between the
Bureau and the Agency from him and believes Trento obtained it
from other FBI sources and attributed it to him. Papich did
mention that there were differences between the two agencies,
but he has never publicly voiced this opinion. He does believe
that he may have made the quote on counterintelligence that
appeared on page xi of the preface to "Widows." (C)
6. During the 21 May 1988 phone conversation with Papich,
Trento disclosed that he believed Shadrin went back to the USSR
willingly and that he (Trento) received this information from
"Israeli sources," that he did not further identify. (Papich
considers Shadrin of low-level stature and believes that
KITTYHAWK was a plant.) Trento was very critical of Leonard
McCoy and considers him incompetent. He was to
send Papich information on his interview with McCoy, but never
did so. Trento also agreed that if he were going to quote
Papich in any publication, he would seek Papich's approval
first, but did not do this either. Papich believes that
something happened between Trento and McCoy between May 1988
and the publication of "Widows" that changed Trento's opinion
of McCoy. (C)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
7. Papich learned through a third party that Robert T.
Crowley Corson's co-author in "The New KGB," a (b)(3)
former Agency employee, and subject of the dedication page of
"Widows," was very critical of the book when it came out.
Papich believes that a lot of the information for "Widows" may
have come from as he had (b)(3)
large differences of opinion with with Angleton. Trento was
very complimentary of CI chief James J. Angleton. (C)
8. The interview with Papich lasted some three and
one-half hours and covered a wide variety of topics.
Throughout the interview, Papich was cordial and helpful. He
noted at the interview's conclusion that he would be willing to
further assist in this investigation in any wa sossib e.
(b)(6)
C ONFIDENTIA.L
Approved for Release: 2020/01/15 C06619093