Mr. Chayes. Yes, 6 is renunciation. But he has to assert—within 6 months after obtaining the age of 18 years—he has to assert his claim to U.S. nationality, in order to get this automatically. But I would think the courts would go further and hold that, especially where volunteerism is involved, as in renunciation, below 18 years is the cutoff point—not 21. It used to be 21, but the Congress reduced the age limit to 18.
Mr. Dulles. Well, that covers the point here. Was there anything about the Oswald case in the Soviet press at any time to your knowledge?
Mr. Snyder. To my knowledge, there was not, Mr. Dulles.
Mr. Dulles. And the Soviet authorities have given you no information about Oswald that hasn't been communicated to us? You have no other information at all from the Soviet authorities about Oswald?
Mr. Snyder. No, sir; I never communicated with the Soviet authorities about Oswald in any form, nor did they ever ask me anything about him.
Mr. Dulles. And you don't know any of the other circumstances under which his case was reconsidered after his attempted cutting of his wrists and suicide? You don't know what channels that went through in the Soviet Union?
Mr. Snyder. I was not aware of this element of the case.
Mr. Dulles. You were not aware, of course, at that time of this element of the case. Do you know what intourist guides were in charge of him?
Mr. Snyder. No.
Mr. Dulles. Do you know any other case during the period when you were in Moscow of an American who had married a Soviet wife and was given an exist visa as quickly and as easily as Oswald and Marina were given theirs?