[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE00294_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
GEORGE 00294 211853Z
ACTION OCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 CA-01 /023 W
——————023505 212120Z /62
R 191922Z JAN 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8766
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 0294
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CDES, GY, (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE MAIL
REF: DOZIER/ELLICE TELECON 12 JANUARY, 1979
THE EMBASSY HAS CONTACTED THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF MAILS AT THE GUYANA POST OFFICE COOPERATION AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF MAIL ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE (POST OFFICE BOX 893).
ASM HAS INFORMED US THAT, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, ALL UNCLAIMED MAIL FROM THAT BOX WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SENDERS. SURVIVORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR OWN MAIL UPON IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AT THE POST OFFICE. OUR OWN EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT LOCAL POST OFFICE FREQUENTLY BUT NOT ALWAYS RETURNS UNDELIVERABLE MAIL TO SENDER.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
UNCLASSIFIED
NNN