8. I am not a member of the Socialist Labor Party. Signed this 2d day of July 1964. (S) Mrs. Estelle Twiford, MRS. ESTELLE TWIFORD. TESTIMONY OF VIRGINIA H. JAMES The testimony of Virginia H. James was taken at 2:15 p.m., on June 17, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Messrs. William T. Coleman, Jr., and W. David Slawson, assistant counsel of the President's Commission. Thomas Ehrlich, Special Assistant to the Legal Adviser, Department of State, was present. Mr. COLEMAN. Miss James, would you state your name for the record? Miss JAMES. Virginia H. James. Mr. COLEMAN. Do you mind raising your right hand? Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Miss JAMES. I do. Mr. COLEMAN. Miss James, as you know, you are the International Relations Officer, Office of Soviet Affairs, in the Department of State. You will be asked to testify about your actions with respect to Oswald concerning his attempt to return to the United States commencing in 1961, and his attempt to secure a visa for his wife, Marina. You will also be questioned concerning your actions in connection with obtaining a waiver of Section 243(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for Marina, and what part, if any, you had in getting the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization to reverse its initial decision to refuse such waiver. And I will also ask you a few questions on whether you have any knowledge concerning actions taken by the Department in 1959 when Oswald first attempted to renounce his American citizenship. Would you state for the record your present address? Miss JAMES. 2501 Q Street NW. Mr. COLEMAN. Are you presently employed by the Federal Government? Miss JAMES. I am employed by the Department of State in the Office of Soviet Union Affairs. Mr. COLEMAN. What is your official title? Miss JAMES. International Relations Officer. Mr. COLEMAN. Did you occupy that position from 1959 through to date? Miss JAMES. I did; and do still. Mr. COLEMAN. I have shown you, and I take it you are generally familiar with, the resolution of Congress which was adopted by Congress in connection with this Commission. Miss JAMES. Yes. Mr. COLEMAN. To the best of your present knowledge, Miss James, could you tell me the first time you heard the name Oswald? Miss JAMES. When I read a copy of the telegram from the American Embassy at Moscow, dated, as I recall, October 30, 1959, saying that Oswald had called at the Embassy and had attempted to renounce his American citizenship. Mr. COLEMAN. Would you accept my suggestion if I told you that that telegram was dated October 31 rather than the 30th? Miss JAMES. Yes. Mr. COLEMAN. Why did you receive, obtain or see a copy of the telegram?