she wrote the letter to the International Rescue Committee, and handed it to me, and I mailed that letter—I mailed the letter.
This is dated January 22, 1962.
So she called me—her name—Mrs. Harwell. She is the only woman in the Red Cross office in Vernon, Tex.
She called me and told me she had received word from the International Rescue Committee. She read me this letter. So I said to Mrs. Harwell, "Do you mind if I take the letter, because I am very forgetful?"
So she took a scissors, gentlemen, and she cut this part out, which was her title and her address—it was addressed to her. This lady wanted no part of anybody in Russia—understand? So she cut this out.
But on the back page was the name. But that is why this space is here—she cut it out.
Now, the letter reads: "Since we had a call from the State Department on Mr. Oswald's case, your communication of January 14th did not come as a surprise."
So this young lady has followed up with a letter of her own to the International Rescue Committee.
"Since we have had a call from the State Department, your letter does not come as a surprise."
I mailed the first letter, and it was just—so she followed up her feelings about a boy in Russia.
Now, why does the State Department dicker with me—that is not the word—and then see fit to put in a personal call to the International Rescue Committee?
I would like to know who from the State Department called the International Rescue Committee.
There is my information there that I requested. Why is a call necessary?
Mr. Rankin. You think that shows there was a conspiracy?
Mrs. Oswald. I am wondering and questioning why a call is necessary, a call, when they had contacted—and I am showing you what I have here. I don't see any necessity of the State Department to call the International Rescue Committee.
And, gentlemen, you have a copy of this—Lee will not be helped.
I would like to know who called the International Rescue Committee from the State Department—yes, sir, I would.
Mr. Rankin. Yes, but you don't think that shows there is a conspiracy?
Mrs. Oswald. Well, no—now. Mr. Rankin, don't pin me down everything I say to the word conspiracy. I am trying to analyze a whole condensed program of things that are not correct. I am telling you about this. It could be just a simple thing, that he called. But I would like to know who called when it wasn't necessary to make a call, and Lee was not going to get the money. Read the letter.
Mr. Rankin. The reason I ask you about the conspiracy is because that is such a serious charge. And, as you say, if you could prove that, that would decide everything around here.
Mrs. Oswald. That is right. And I am going to see if I cannot show you these things.
Mr. Rankin. If you are speculating, which you have a right to do, that is something different.
Mrs. Oswald. Well, I have explained that I am speculating, that I have all these documents, that some of them don't make sense. That is what I am trying to tell you. I mentioned that before.
Mr. Rankin. You are not trying to say to the Commission that you have the proof that there was a conspiracy?
Mrs. Oswald. I have emphatically stated that I do not have the proof, because if I had the proof I would have an affidavit and give you gentlemen the proof. I made that clear two or three times. I wish I did have the proof, sir.
I think I said yesterday—it doesn't surprise me that there may be someone in our State Department or some official who would have part in this. He is a human being just like we are. He may have a title, but that doesn't make him a man back of the title.
Mr. Dulles. What is this conspiracy now, Mr. Rankin? Is this the conspiracy to do away with the President, or is this a different conspiracy?
Mr. Rankin. The conspiracy I was asking about was the conspiracy, she said, about the assassination of President Kennedy.
And she said that it involved the two Secret Service agents and her daughter-in-law and her son. That is the one I was asking about.
The Chairman. And Mrs. Paine.
Mrs. Oswald. And Mrs. Paine. I feel like the facts have come from this particular source.
Mr. Rankin. Now, as I understand she says now that she is speculating as to that being a possibility.
Mrs. Oswald. Well, now, Mr. Rankin. I have not changed my testimony, if you are implying that. I may not have put it in a position you understood. Because as I say, I certainly did not mean to imply that I had proof, because if I had proof I would not be sitting here taking all my energy and trying to show you this little by little. I would have had an affidavit and show you the proof. So if you want to call it speculation, call it speculation. I don't care what you call it. But I am not satisfied in my mind that things are according to Hoyle. And I believe that my son is innocent. And I also realize that my son could be involved. But I have no way of knowing these things unless I analyze the papers that I have, sir.
Mr. Rankin. The Commission would like to know what you base your assumption that your son was an agent on. Could you help us?
Mrs. Oswald. Would you like me to go into this story—I will start with my son's life from the very beginning.
Mr. Rankin. Can't we get down to——
Mrs. Oswald. No, sir, we cannot. I am sorry. This is my life. I cannot survive in this world unless I know I have my American way of life and can start from the very beginning. I have to work into this. I cannot answer these questions like in a court, yes or no. And I will not answer yes or no. I want to tell you the story. And that is the only way you can get a true picture. I am the accused mother of this man, and I have family and grandchildren, and Marina, my daughter-in-law. And I am going to do everything I can to try and prove he is innocent.
Mr. Rankin. Well, now, Mrs. Oswald, you are not claiming before this Commission that there was anything back at the beginning, at the early childhood of your son, in which you thought he was an agent?
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, sir—at age 16.
Mr. Rankin. Well, why don't you start with age 16, then.
Mrs. Oswald. Well, aren't you gentlemen—I have a letter from you, Mr. Rankin. Aren't you gentlemen interested in my son's life from the very beginning? I think you should, because it has been exploited in all the magazines and papers. And this is not my son is what I am trying to say. He is not a perfect boy, and I am not a perfect woman. But I can show a different side of Lee Harvey Oswald, which I hope to do to this Commission.
Mr. Rankin. Well, I plan to ask you about his early life and these other parts. But I thought it would be helpful if you would be willing to do it to tell the Commission, while Mr. Dulles is here, what you base this claim upon that your son was an agent of the Government.
Mrs. Oswald. Yes, and I would be happy to do it.
Mr. Rankin. If you have to go to when he was 16 years
