[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE311371_e.html.]
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PAGE 01
STATE 311371
ORIGIN L-03
INFO OCT-00 ARA-15 ADS-00 H-02 PA-02 /022 R
DRAFTED BY L/C: F A KWIATEK
APPROVED BY L/C: F A KWIATEK
L/ARA: M G KOZAK
ARA/CAR: R A MCCOY
——————060693 030823Z /13
R 030552Z DEC 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
UNCLAS STATE 311371
E.O. 12065 N/A
TAGS: ACLM, GY, US
SUBJECT: TORT CLAIMS INVOLVING CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND NBC NEWSMAN DON HARRIS
REF: GEORGETOWN 5080
1. UNDER FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT OF 1949 AND ACT OF AUGUST 1, 1956, CHIEFS OF MISSION AND PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF FISCAL REPORTING POSTS ARE LIMITED TO SETTLING TORT CLAIMS FOR AMOUNT OF DOLS 1,000 OR LESS. THE LEGAL ADVISER AND DEPUTY LEGAL ADVISERS OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO A DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CONSIDER, ASCERTAIN, DETERMINE AND SETTLE CLAIMS CAPABLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SETTLEMENT UNDER THE ACT FOR AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF DOLS 1,000.
2. SINCE AMOUNT CLAIMED IN EACH CASE FAR EXCEEDS DOLS 1,000, EMBASSY SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF CLAIMS TO ATTORNEY LEWIS, STATING THAT CLAIMS HAVE BEEN TRANSMITTED
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TO THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT LEGAL ADVISER FOR INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS FOR ADJUDICATION. NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED OF THE EMBASSY AT THIS TIME. SAME CLAIMS ALSO HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT BY ATTORNEY LEWIS.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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