</s>204.10250-10209 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 Office Memorandum . UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO : Deputy Chief, Special Security Division DATE: 21 October 1953 FROM : Chief, Specialist Referral Branch SUBJECT : HIDALFO, Jr ., Balmes Nieves #65077 1. Reference is made to your memorandum, dated 16 October 1953, in which it was requested that appropriate inquiries be made to ascertain the answers to the following questions. a. Can BALMES is made available for testimony before to ascertain answers to be available for testimonials. a.a. United States b. If the answer is made accessible for testimony b. if the answer to question "G" is in the negative, can the FBI Subversive Activities Control Board in the United States. the FBI interview BALMes wherever wherever you may be outside the United States. c. If an answer to answer to be answered by BALMERS be c. can can interview BALMS wherever you May be the outside submitted to CIA for transmit to the BALMETS where they may be the answers given by BALMS to be sent back to the FBI via CIA. 2. On October 1953 Mr. (William B. (CALMELDWELL), Chief, WII/PT given by BALMES as sent back by the CIA. 2, on October 1953 Mrs. (WILLIAM B. CALMENDWELL) Chief, WI/PT was interviewed in his office. Mr. CALMENDLELL) said that the Subject was presently a Contract Employee whose services are being utilized in Panama under the Travel Control Project. He stated that subject was been overseas for approximately one year and a half 1. A. T. months. He advised that in answer to the question "A", Subject can be that subject has been covered for approximately 1,4", Subject activities months. Available for testimony before the Subversive activities Control Board and that it was absolutely necessary. Project and that if it wasabsolutely necessary, he could be recalled to the United States with necessary, the stated that recalled the United states within twenty-four hours. He is in refer- which question could not be when he was asked to answer (CALDWELL advised) advised four hours. No reason of duty. In reference to question Mr. ("CALDMELL") reported that this was the most desirable alternative and that he would prefer the questions to answer by Subject that he submitted to CIA to the FBI, via this Agency. the FBI. via this agency. 3. On 21 October 1963 Miss(Helen POTDERSOF Staff C<loc_253><loc_797><loc_808><loc_797><loc_808><loc_253><loc_810>reviewed by and determined that Subject would be true name is identical to the captioned Subject and not as shown in your memoram of 16 October 1953. SECRET

Summary  
This document is an office memorandum dated 21 October 1953 from the Chief, Specialist Referral Branch, to the Deputy Chief, Special Security Division. It addresses inquiries regarding Hidalfo Nieves Balmes Jr., #65077, concerning his availability for testimony before the FBI and Subversive Activities Control Board. The memorandum outlines procedures for interviewing Balmes, both within and outside the United States, with potential involvement of the CIA to transmit answers to the FBI. It references an earlier memorandum from 16 October 1953 and clarifies that Balmes is a contract employee working in Panama under the Travel Control Project, having been overseas for approximately 18 months. A statement by William B. Caldwell notes that Balmes could be recalled to the United States within 24 hours if required. The document also mentions Helen Potderson reviewing and confirming Balmes' true name matches the subject in question, correcting an earlier reference. No further investigation is planned unless otherwise instructed.  

Key People  
- Hidalfo Nieves Balmes Jr., #65077 (subject of inquiry)  
- William B. Caldwell (interviewed on 19 October 1953)  
- Helen Potderson (reviewed and confirmed subject's identity)  
- Charles W. Kane (signed the memorandum on 21 October 1953)  

Key Locations  
- Panama (where Balmes was working under the Travel Control Project)  
- United States (location of FBI and Subversive Activities Control Board)  

Key Events  
- Inquiry into Balmes' availability for testimony by U.S. agencies  
- Interview of William B. Caldwell regarding Balmes' status and recall procedures  
- Review and correction of subject's identity by Helen Potderson  
- Decision to halt further investigation unless additional instructions are received  

Key Organizations  
- FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)  
- Subversive Activities Control Board  
- CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)  
- Special Security Division (U.S. Government office involved in the memorandum)

JFK Declassified Files

104-10250-10200.pdf

Document Summary

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