Mr. Coleman. 1961.
Mr. Seeley. Yes, sir; that is true. I wasn't sure of the time element in there, but that is true. This went out the same day, apparently, that the instruction was drafted and was sent in, or the despatch was drafted and sent in.
Mr. Coleman. So, therefore, you took that action or you approved that action prior to the time that you knew that Oswald had appeared at the Embassy in Moscow?
Mr. Seeley. Yes, sir.
Mr. Coleman. Is it a fair reading of the July 11, 1961, instructions which you approved, that you indicated that Oswald could be given back his passport?
Mr. Seeley. No, sir; I don't think so. I call your attention to paragraph 5 of the despatch; "It is noted that the Embassy intends to seek the Department's prior advice before granting Mr. Oswald documentation as a United States citizen upon any application he may submit."
Mr. Coleman. So, therefore, as of this time it was still open as far as the Department was concerned in Washington whether Oswald had renounced his citizenship and was entitled to a passport?
Mr. Seeley. Yes, sir. I don't think that the adjudicative proceeding had been completed.
Mr. Coleman. When was the adjudicative process completed so far as you were concerned, that the Passport Office in Washington determined that in its opinion, that Mr. Oswald was still a citizen?
Mr. Seeley. I would say that the operations memorandum of August 18, 1961, from the Department of State to the American Embassy in Moscow which refers to the Embassy Despatch No. 29, the passport renewal application and the questionnaire.