Mr. Liebeler. Did Oswald ever tell you that he had been in the hospital when he was in the Soviet Union?
Mr. Ballen. No.
Mr. Liebeler. Other than the fact that he stated that life in the Soviet Union was very boring, did he indicate to you any reason for his return to the United States?
Mr. Ballen. Yes; he said that he had gone there to find out what this thing was like. He wanted to find it out for himself. He found out, and now was the time to come back, and that coming back he was running into all the prejudices of the people here who were washing him off because he had taken this plunge and gone on his own initially to the U.S.S.R.
Mr. Liebeler. Did you know at that time that he had attempted to renounce his citizenship?
Mr. Ballen. I did not know it, and he did not say anything that would have suggested that. You must bear in mind he came to me to look for a job.
Mr. Liebeler. Did he mention the name of the city in which he was employed and lived in the Soviet Union?
Mr. Ballen. He probably did, and I can't really recall it. I read so much in the newspaper, I don't know on that what is my own memory and what I have read in the newspaper.
Mr. Liebeler. You have read in the newspaper that he lived and was employed in the city of Minsk?
Mr. Ballen. That is correct. I would have thought that he would have—my memory is this. He told me he was in a community outside of Minsk. That is my best memory, but it is not too good.