TOP SECRET
Joseph Katz
Katz has been identified as a Soviet agent by Elizabeth Bentley, Harry Gold and others. He is also identified as such by material from , and the latter source has supplied considerable information relative to his activities in the U. S. CIA is already cognizant of his identity as a Soviet agent. Katz has been out of the U. S. since 1948; from the latter date until about mid-1951 he was principally in France; since then he is belie⟨ved⟩ to have been in Israel. CIA has conducted investigation of ⟨Katz⟩ in France, and has been asked to conduct investigation in Isr⟨ael.⟩ Due to his importance as a Soviet agent, as he is outside the U. S. and as CIA knows of him, it is felt likely that they ⟨will⟩ inquire concerning the possibility of his being mentioned in the traffic. Further, as he is now in the jurisdiction of CIA if is felt we should inform them of the fact he is mentioned in the traffic.
Stephen Laird
Stephen Laird, Columbia Broadcasting System corresp⟨on⟩dent, has been riding in Vic Vaud Switzerland since Decemb⟨er,⟩ 1949.
Laird is identical with Yun in the information. According to Laird was consider⟨ed⟩ to be a politically well developed person by the MGB in 1944, and was being utilized as an agent.
This case was referred to CIA for investigation the fall of 1950. CIA has been followed periodically since that date but has produced practically no information concern⟨ing⟩ the activities and associations of Laird.
Oscar R. Lange
Oscar Lange has been identified with an individual designated under the cover name of Friend by the MgB, according to in 1944. He was being used by the MGB in connection with their interest in Polish political activities ⟨in⟩ the U. S. You may recall that he entered the U. S. in 1937, became a naturalized citizen in 1943, and renounced this citizenship in order to become Polish Ambassador to the U. S. He was removed from this position in 1946 and subsequently returned ⟨to⟩ Poland in 1947. He is, of course, well known to CIA.
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TOP SECRET
