[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 1824 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.
[The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE023077_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 023077
ORIGIN L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 JUSE-00 OCS-06 CA-01 FBIE-00 SS-15 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 /047 R
DRAFTED BY L/T:LABAUMANN:KG
APPROVED BY L:LRMARKS
ARA – JBUSHNELL(INFO)
JUSTICE – JHIRGIN
ARA/CAR – RMCCOY (SUBS)
——————097832 280329Z /61
R 272221Z JAN 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
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E.O. 12065:
TAGS: N/A CASC, TD, GY (PEOPLES TEMPLE)
SUBJECT: (LOU) PROTECTION OF US INTERESTS VIS-A-VIS PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
REFS: A) STATE 16429 B) PORT OF SPAIN 00269
1. (LOU) entire text.
2. Dept appreciates information relayed in Reftel B. Dept believes it is important to lodge a statement similar to that provided in Reftel A with the GOTT [Government of Trinidad and Tobago]. However, in view of information informally provided by Barclays Bank, and sensitivity of GOTT, Embassy may delete last two paragraphs of note which make specific reference to Peoples Temple (PT) accounts in Trinidad and Tobago.
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3. Similar notes are being delivered to other governments whom the USG [U.S. Government] has reason to believe may have PT assets within their jurisdiction.
4. With regards to the Barclays account discussed in Reftels A and B, Dept would appreciate confirmation if possible, of who closed out the account.
5. Dept would also appreciate any further available information on Abraham Shipping Co. account.
Vance [Cyrus Vance, Secretary of State]
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