[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE00059_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 00059 061345Z
ACTION L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 JUSE-00 SCS-06 CA-01 H-01 TRSE-00 NSCE-00 SSO-00 /023 W
——————089139 061411Z /47
O 061245Z JAN 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8658
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 0059
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CASC, GY (PEOPLE TEMPLE)
SUBJ$ PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES INTERESTS VIS-A-VIS PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN GUYANA.
REF: STATE 319402
1. TRANSMITTED BELOW IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA’S REPLY TO EMBASSY NOTE NO. 97 OF DECEMBER 20, 1978, TEXT OF WHICH WAS FURNISHED IN REFTEL. COMMENTS FOLLOW SEPTEL.
2. QUOTE:
CFA: 14/41/1
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN GUYANA AND HAS THE HONOUR TO REFER TO NOTE NO. 91 OF NOVEMBER 26, 1978, FROM THE EMBASSY TO THE MINISTRY CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICERS TO ACT AS PROVISIONAL CONSERVATORS OF THE PERSONAL ESTATES OF DECEASED AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WERE RESIDENT AT JONESTOWN, GUYANA. THE MINISTRY ALSO REFERS TO TWO LETTERS ON THE SAME SUBJECT WHICH WERE ADDRESSED TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, THE FIRST, NO. 97, DATED DECEMBER 20, 1978, AND WRITTEN BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO GUYANA, AND THE SECOND,
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NO. 103, WITH ENCLOSURES, DATED DECEMBER 27, 1978, AND WRITEN [WRITTEN] BY THE UNITED STATES CHARGE D’AFFAIRES AD INTERIM.
AS REGARDS THE REQUEST MADE IN NOTE NO. 91 FOR ASSISTANCE TO UNITED STATES CONSULAR OFFICERS IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS, THE MINISTRY IS GLAD TO NOTE THE EXPRESSION IN LETTER NO. 97 OF THE APPRECIATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN FOR THE CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA IN CONNECTION WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE EMBASSY’S CONSULAR OFFICERS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF AND TO REPATRIATE PROPERTY OF DECEASED UNITED STATES CITIZENS WHO WERE RESIDENT AT JONESTOWN.
THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA WISHES TO ASSURE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA OF ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICERS TO DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. STANDING INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVE FOR GUYANESE PERSONNEL TO OFFER EVERY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE. THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA HAS NOTED WITH MUCH UNDERSTANDING THE STRONG INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AS EXPRESSED IN LETTER NO. 97, IN THE ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF ANY ASSEST IDENTIFIED AS BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE IN GUYANA AND WOULD BE GLAD TO DO ALL THAT IT REASONABLY AND PROPERLY CAN TO FACILITATE THE MAKING OF ANY CLAIMS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ANY SUCH ASSETS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONNECTION WITH THE INCIDENTS AT JONESTOWN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUEST MADE IN LETTER NO. 97 FOR THE MAKING OF AN INVENTORY AND THE TAKING OF OTHER STEPS FOR CONSERVING THE ASSETS OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE, THE MINISTRY IS GLAD TO INFORM THE EMBASSY THAT THE NECESSARY ACTION HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS DURING THE INTERVENTION WHICH AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNEMTNT OF GUYANA HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN OBLIGED TO MAKE IN JONESTOWN FOR
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THE LIMITED PUPOSES OF LAW AND ORDER. IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY, THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA WILL BE GLAD TO AVAIL ITSELF OF THE KIND OFFER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN CONDUCTING THE INVENTORY AND IN PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE ASSETS.
MEANWHILE, HOWEVER, THE MINISTRY THINKS IT RIGHT TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA RESERVES ITS POSITION AS REGARDS ANY ASSETS WHICH WERE HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS THEREFOR IN VIOLATION OF THE LASWS OF GUYANA AND ALSO AS REGARDS ANY CLAIM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA MAY LATER FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED OR LOSS SUSTAINED BY IT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TRAUMATIC UPHEAVAL OCCASIONED IN THE SOCIETY OF GUYANA BY REASON OF THE WHOLLY UNLOOKED FOR INCIDENTS AT JONESTOWN.
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA AVAILS ITSELF OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN THE ASSURANCES OF ITS HIGHEST CONSIDERATION .
JANUARY 5, 1979 UNQUOTE.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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