[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE00585_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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PAGE 01
GEORGE 00585 072231Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 PER-05 /021 W
——————095406 081045Z /11
R 071217Z FEB 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8926
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 0585
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: AFSP, APER, CGEN BY
SUBJ: REQUEST FOR TDY OFFICER
REF: A. STATE 0259 78 GEORGETOWN 04073
1. RETIRED TDY CONSULAR OFFICER ARVID HOLM PRESENTLY SCHEDULED TO DEPART MARCH 1, 1979. REPLACEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED AND IS HEREBY REQUESTED.
2. TWO EXAMPLES OF THE TIME-CONSUMING OPERATIONS WE ARE STILL PERFORMING:
(A) ONE CONSULAR OFFICER IS PRESENT ON THE DOCKS, AS THE GUYANESE CUSTOMS SERVICE OPENS EACH OF THE MORE THAN 100 CRATES BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE, IN ORDER TO TAKE NOTE OF AND PROTECT ANY PERSONAL PROPERTY OF DECEASED AMERICANS;
(B) ONE CONSULAR OFFICER HAS ATTENDED EVERY SESSION OF THE TWO PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ASSASSINATION OF CONG. RYAN AND THE MURDERS/SUICIDES AT THE PEOPLES TEMPLE GEORGETOWN RESIDENCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND ALL TRIALS AS THE CASES MOVE FROM THE PI TO THE TRIAL STAGE. 3. MR. HOLM HAS INDICATED THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO STAY UNITL MARCH 15TH IF DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO REPLACE HIM MARCH 1.
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BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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