Mr. Stern. Thank you.
Mr. Belmont. This would not, of course, include the cooperative citizen to whom we go, and who frequently and frankly discloses any information in his possession, but rather someone who joins an organization or seeks out information at the direction and instance of the FBI relative to subversive or criminal matters. In other words, I want to make it clear we do not regard patriotic citizens as informants.
Mr. Stern. I take it you also would not have regarded Lee Oswald as an informant from the contacts with him that you have told us about and the other agents have told us about?
Mr. Belmont. Indeed not; in no way could he be considered an informant; in no way.
Mr. Stern. Did you supervise or assist in the preparation of the information contained here?
Mr. Belmont. Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern. And you are familiar with it?
Mr. Belmont. Yes; I am.
Mr. Stern. And to your knowledge, does it accurately and completely state the Bureau's practice in recruiting a prospective informant?
Mr. Belmont. That is correct.