[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03597_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 01 GEORGE 03597 021756Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SS-15 ONY-00 SSO-00 /031 W
——————108927 021759Z /46 R
O 021745Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7966
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 3597
FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY VAKY
E.O. 11652: NA
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN LEO) GY
SUBJ: CODEL RYAN’S INTENTION TO INVESTIGATE PEOPLES TEMPLE IN GUYANA.
I KNOW THAT ARA/CAR HAS KEPT YOU INFORMED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CODEL RYAN’S VISIT TO GEORGETOWN FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVETIGATING THE PEOPLES TEMPLE. IN MY CABLE ON THE SUBJECT WHEN THE POSSIBILITY WAS FIRST RAISED (GEORGETOWN’S 3125), I ASKED THAT A DEPARTMENT LAWYER FROM THE STAFF OF LEGAL ADVISER BE DETAILED TO ACCOMPANY THE CODEL. I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENCE OF AN ATTORNEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT FULLY CONVERSANT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACTS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AND I ASK YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS REQUEST WITH THE LEGAL ADVISER, SO THAT ONE OF HIS STAFF CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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