CIA Memo: Discussion of Oswald's Stay in Helsinki (201-289248)
This CIA document (Record Number 104-10004-10143, C06932208) is a two-page memorandum dated 1 June 1964 from the Agency's Soviet Russia (SR) Division, titled 'Discussion Between Member SR Division Concerning Oswald's Stay in Helsinki.' The memo, authored by Lee H. Wigren (C/SR/CI/R), records a 0900 conversation with Frank Friberg, recently returned Chief of Station Helsinki, regarding a Warren Commission inquiry into the timetable of Lee Harvey Oswald's stay in Finland in October 1959, including his contact with the Soviet Consulate. Friberg provided logistical details: it takes 25 minutes to drive from the airport to downtown Helsinki; roughly 5 minutes by taxi to reach the Soviet consulate; the Soviet consulate probably closed at 1300 on Saturdays in 1959; and U.S. Consulate passenger manifests in Helsinki are retained for only six months before destruction. Robert Fulton is identified as the U.S. consular official there at the time. The memo references attached Commission and State Department cables (25 May 1964 and 22 May 1964) and recommends cabling the Helsinki Station on points not covered by State. The document was originally classified SECRET, released with deletions on 12 June 1993, and re-released by NARA on 18 March 2025.
Description
A 1964 CIA Soviet Russia (SR) Division memorandum recording a discussion with recently returned Helsinki Chief of Station Frank Friberg about Lee Harvey Oswald's October 1959 stay in Finland, prepared in response to a Warren Commission inquiry. Released by the National Archives in the 2025 JFK Assassination Records disclosure.
Claims
On 1 June 1964, CIA officer Lee H. Wigren discussed with recently returned Chief of Station Helsinki Frank Friberg the Warren Commission's inquiry into Oswald's October 1959 stay in Finland.
90%Frank Friberg was the recently returned CIA Chief of Station in Helsinki.
85%It takes 25 minutes to drive from the Helsinki airport to downtown and no more than 5 minutes by taxi to reach the Soviet consulate.
85%U.S. Consulate passenger manifests in Helsinki were retained for only six months before being destroyed.
82%The Soviet consulate in Helsinki probably closed at 1300 hours on Saturdays in 1959.
80%Robert Fulton (CIA) was the U.S. consular official in Helsinki at the time of Oswald's visit.
80%U.S. Consulate passenger lists (manifests) in Helsinki were retained for only six months and then destroyed.
75%Robert Fulton was the U.S. consular official in Helsinki at the time of Oswald's 1959 stay.
70%It takes 25 minutes to drive from the Helsinki airport to downtown and about 5 minutes by taxi to the Soviet consulate.
70%The Soviet consulate in Helsinki probably closed at 1300 hours local time on Saturdays in 1959.
60%
Events
Sep 30, 1959
Oswald's stay in Helsinki, Finland
Lee Harvey Oswald's stay in Finland in October 1959, including his contact with the Soviet Consulate en route to the USSR.
Mar 17, 2025
NARA 2025 release
Document released by the National Archives under the JFK Assassination Records Act.
May 31, 1964
SR Division discussion with Friberg
Lee H. Wigren discussed the Oswald Helsinki timetable with returned COS Frank Friberg in response to a Warren Commission inquiry.
Jun 11, 1993
Release with deletions
Document previously released with deletions.
May 31, 1964
Discussion with COS Helsinki
At 0900 on 1 June 1964, Lee H. Wigren spoke with Frank Friberg concerning the Warren Commission inquiry into Oswald's Helsinki timetable.
May 24, 1964
Warren Commission letter
Warren Commission letter of inquiry, attached to the memo.
May 21, 1964
State Department cable
State Department cable inquiry referenced and attached.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
[ 104-10004-10143 AGENCY RECORD NUMBER RECORD SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER ORIGINATOR FROM TO TITLE DATE PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW OPENING CRITERIA COMMENTS J MV 64937 Docid:32106269 Page 1 (2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 | a Date: 05/08/96 Page: 1 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION CIA 104-10004-10143 JFK 201-289248 DOCUMENT INFORMATION CIA DISCUSSION BETWEEN MEMBER SR DIVISION CONCERNING OSWALD'S STAY IN HELSINKI. 06/01/64 2 HELSINKI TRIP USSR CONSULATE PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT SECRET 1B RELEASED WITH DELETIONS 06/12/93 OSW10:V43 1993.06.12.10:33:55:150000: whee we tne a "UNL ics SSIFIED 3 CO atenine USE_ONLY ? “ a oO cM ventiat Loy [_] SECRET ~~ | ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET SUBJECT: (Optional) we — FROM: " LA IS EXTENSION NO. CFAL SX- Qe60S5- 2aB 2D DATE / ye é x rota get designation, room number, and : DATE OFFICER'S COMMENTS iNumece each comment to show from whom ; peceiven | FORWARDED INITIALS to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.) 5 MAR 1975 ea | LP LAY) : any a 2. - sx 4. C I, y : _ oy 50)- BEI IME [EPIL ; | 6. ‘Document Number M6 & . 8 for FOIA Review on (aun 76 | A Les Dll. | 10. \ Fs 12. An 13. 14, 15. FORM USE PREVIOUS nvv-sags7O NO iaisoive269 Pa QE SRET ["] CONFIDENTIAL INTERNAL USE ONLY LJ (]_UNCLASSIFIED gx 25" 2 1 June 1964 - SR Oj sio'y , ~ . y $e PseussiOn) be tewoen fbn BER s 5 FLdlo wd COS ppelsinkl cancerning Aime res . \ > a 1, At 0900 this morning I talked with Frank Friberg recently returned COS Helsinki re Warren Commission inquiry concerning: the timetable of Oswald's stay in Finland in October 1959, including his contact with the Soviet Consulate there. (Copy of the Commission letter of 25 May 64 and State Cable of 22 May 64 attached.),./£: 2. Friberg gave me the following information: a. It takes 25 minutes to drive from the airport to. downtown Helsinki; b. By taxi, it would take no more than 5 minutes to . reach the Soviet consulate; c. The Soviet consulate probably closéd at 1300 hours Joval | time on Saturdays in 1959; , qd. Passenger lists (manifests) at the U.S. Consulate ‘in Helsinki are retained for six months only and then are destroyed. Mr. Robert Fulton (CIA) was U.S. consular offictal there at . the time. @. A copy of State's cable inquiry would go to the Helsinki Station and they would assist in preparation of a repty. eo 3. Mr. Friberg agreed that it would be worthwhile to cable che Station concerning points not covered by State in their inquiry. He suggested changes incorporated into the cable sent to Helsinki. “ a ee Lee H. Wigren RAVEL PROGRAM gui R Poe |/iSTRI if C/SR/CI/R wean [eae ASTRA. é Fey ; P/FIS PREPARE FOR FILSRIG iP/PH FIL ' ‘Document Number ¢ ¥38 CODE NO. (2,3, 4) AYGAT REST. COLE 1$0/DCd CABLE IDEN (13) for FOIA Review on. JUN 197 neo (8) 76 | Sa ME AS RECEASED W/FiLES FOR FILING | t _ Joy ->89ays 37 -Docld:32106269 Page 3
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