This is a listing of cables transmitted during 1979. Most of the cables below originated either within the State Department or one of its embassies, although there are few from the FBI and the Secret Service.
January 1979
February 1979
March 1979
April 1979
May 1979
June 1979
July 1979
August 1979
September 1979
October 1979
November 1979
December 1979
It should be noted that many of the texts for the cables below were provided by the Wikileaks site, which was discovered to be defunct in late 2022. This is especially true for cables for which there is no corresponding pdf, such as the cable from State to Georgetown on January 3, 1979 at 2051, or which were heavily redacted, such as the cable from State to Georgetown on January 26, 1979 at 0118. For more discussion of Wikileaks’ collapse, click here.
A key to the notations in the columns appears below the chart. A note on sources used in the compilation of this chart also appears below.
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790102 | 1449 | Georgetown | 0005 8623 | Temple survivors depart Guyana | Text | |
| 790102 | 2245 | Secret Service | 0001 | Assassination Threat Against President | Text | |
| 790102 | 2258 | State | 00358 | Ambassador to discuss Temple assets with GOG | Text | |
| 790103 | 1236 | Georgetown | 0018 8630 | Final death certificates not ready yet | Text | |
| 790103 | 1545 | Georgetown | 0019 8631 | Larry Layton bound over for trial | Text | |
| 790103 | 2051 | State | 01102 | Notification of updated list of dead | Text | |
| 790103 | 2111 | Panama | 0052 0446 | Temple bank accounts in Panama | Text | |
| 790103 | 2149 | State | 01222 | Embassy reports on arrest of Stephan Jones | Text | |
| 790103 | 2253 | State | 01310 | FBI Interviews With Temple Members Still In Guyana | Text | |
| 790104 | 1101 | Georgetown | 0030 8641 | Media Coverage Of Temple Delivery Of Cash To Soviets | PDF Stoen | Text |
| 790104 | 1900 | Kingston | 0095 5107 | Travel of Odell Rhodes | Text | |
| 790104 | 2209 | State | 02354 | Temple Funds In Panama Bank Accounts | Text | |
| 790104 | 2228 | State | 02465 | Question on visiting Larry Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790105 | 2111 | Panama | 0136 0487 | Temple Funds In Panama | Text | |
| 790105 | 2217 | State | 03542 | Questions on Laurence Mann investigation of Temple | Text | |
| 790106 | 0301 | State | 03871 | Dover seeks Mootoo opinion on Jonestown dead | Text | |
| 790106 | 1245 | Georgetown | 0059 8658 | GOG response to USG request for protecting Temple assets | Text | |
| 790108 | 1715 | Georgetown | 0060 8659 | GOG follows up on previous note | Text | |
| 790108 | 1837 | Georgetown | 0063 8664 | Travel of Michael Touchette | Text | |
| 790108 | 1855 | Georgetown | 0069 8660 | Temple Bank Accounts In Guyana | Text | |
| 790109 | 0950 | Bern | 0147 7516 | Swiss order blocking access to Temple account may expire | Text | |
| 790109 | 1016 | Georgetown | 0065 8666 | FBI Interviews With Temple Members Still In Guyana | Text | |
| 790109 | 1017 | Georgetown | 0066 8667 | Georgetown prison policies on contacts with prisoners | Text | |
| 790110 | 1027 | Georgetown | 0103 8683 | Guyanese Death Certificate On Denise Johnson | Text | |
| 790110 | 1220 | Port of Spain | 0090 3519 | Travel of Michael Touchette | Text | |
| 790110 | 1700 | Georgetown | 0120 8685 | Travel of Temple survivors | Text | |
| 790110 | 1701 | Georgetown | 0121 8686 | Repatriation of Temple survivors | Text | |
| 790110 | 1758 | Georgetown | 0122 8690 | Guyanese Death Certificate On Viola Kelley | Text | |
| 790110 | 1759 | Georgetown | 0126 8691 | Erroneous Death Report on Michael Angelo Simon | Text | |
| 790110 | 1945 | Bridgetown | 097 7124 | Travel of Temple survivors | Text | |
| 790110 | 2207 | State | 07379 | Travel Of Sky Marshals | Text | |
| 790110 | 2302 | State | 07515 | Granddaughter being detained in Guyana as a witness | Text | |
| 790111 | 1202 | Georgetown | 0136 8694 | Police report in Amos murder | Text | |
| 790111 | 1719 | State | 08245 | Question on visits to prisoners in Guyana | Text | |
| 790111 | 2340 | State | 08551 | Justice asks Switzerland to block Temple accounts | Text | |
| 790112 | 0123 | State | 08685 | Death Certificate On Sharon Johnson | Text | |
| 790112 | 1122 | Georgetown | 0149 8700 | Guyanese Death Certificate, on Mauri Kay Janaro | Text | |
| 790112 | 1123 | Georgetown | 0150 8701 | Guyanese Death Certificate on Pearl Land | Text | |
| 790112 | 1136 | Georgetown | 0162 8707 | Verdict In Coroner’s Inquest to be sent to DC | Text | |
| 790112 | 1844 | Georgetown | 0179 8717 | Disposition Of Temple Property In Guyana | Text | |
| 790113 | 0928 | State | 09984 | State seeks to establish guidelines for report | Text | |
| 790115 | 1149 | Georgetown | 0192 8719 | U.S. Goals And Objectives In Guyana | Text | |
| 790115 | 1540 | Bern | 0256 7560 | Peoples Temple Funds In Switzerland | Text | |
| 790115 | 1638 | Georgetown | 0198 8724 | Death Certificate On Monique Bacon | Text | |
| 790115 | 1642 | Georgetown | 0200 8725 | Embassy tries to identify missing child in Guyana | Text | |
| 790115 | 1925 | Georgetown | 0203 8726 | Three Temple survivors return to US | Text | |
| 790115 | 2133 | Port of Spain | 0161 3547 | Travels of Touchettes, Carl Barnett | Text | |
| 790115 | 1307 | Georgetown | 0207 8727 | Death Certificate On Love M. Joy | Text | |
| 790116 | 1910 | Port of Spain | 0185 3556 | Travels of Touchettes, Phil Blakey | Text | |
| 790116 | 2049 | State | 012047 | Copying Of Tape Recordings From Jonestown | Text | |
| 790116 | 2135 | State | 012084 | Removal Of Material Taken By Consular Officers From Jonestown | Text | |
| 790117 | 1413 | Georgetown | 0220 8732 | Death Certificate for Shirley Robinson | Text | |
| 790117 | 1416 | Georgetown | 0223 8735 | Embassy works on guidelines for visiting Layton | Text | |
| 790117 | 1424 | Georgetown | 0231 8742 | Death Certificate corrections | Text | |
| 790117 | 1705 | Georgetown | 0232 8743 | GOG Announces Establishment Of Commission Of Inquiry | Text | |
| 790117 | 2200 | State | 012983 | Layton family sets up account for Larry in Georgetown jail | Text | |
| 790118 | 1047 | Georgetown | 0235 8746 | Amos inquiry postponed | Text | |
| 790118 | 1350 | Georgetown | 0253 8747 | Death Certificate for Nawab Lawrence | Text | |
| 790118 | 1514 | State | 013745 | Death Certificates for Marie Janaro, Pearl Land, Marcia Simon | Text | |
| 790118 | 1755 | Georgetown | 0267 8750 | Possible Return Of Albatross III To Georgetown | Text | |
| 790118 | 1757 | Georgetown | 0269 8752 | Notes Of Evidence Taken During Coroner’s Inquest | Text | |
| 790118 | 1843 | Georgetown | 0233 8744 | Status of PT members in jail | Text | |
| 790118 | 2122 | State | 014147 | Disposition Of Peoples Temple Property In Guyana | Text | |
| 790119 | 1104 | Georgetown | 0272 8754 | Death Certificate corrections | Text | |
| 790119 | 1410 | Georgetown | 0280 8756 | Cases of documents shipped from Georgetown to New York | Text | |
| 790119 | 1505 | Georgetown | 0287 8762 | Jonestown survivor experiences financial difficulties | Text | |
| 790119 | 1818 | State | 014978 | Future expenses incurred on JT to be forwarded to State | Text | |
| 790119 | 1902 | Georgetown | 0282 | Death Certificates | Text | |
| 790119 | 1922 | Georgetown | 0294 8766 | Disposition of mail sent to PT in Guyana | Text | |
| 790119 | 1925 | Georgetown | 0297 8769 | Embassy reports on Burnham’s views on JT | Text | |
| 790119 | 2245 | State | 015306 | Death Certificates | Text | |
| 790119 | 2250 | State | 015351 | Notes Of Evidence Taken During Coroner’s Inquest | Text | |
| 790119 | 2340 | State | 015478 | Inventory Of Peoples Temple Property In Guyana | Text | |
| 790120 | 1730 | State | 016428 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Curacao | Text | |
| 790120 | 1730 | State | 016429 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Port of Spain | Text | |
| 790120 | 1731 | State | 016430 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Grenada | Text | |
| 790120 | 1731 | State | 016431 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Venezuela | Text | |
| 790120 | 1732 | State | 016431 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Nassau | Text | |
| 790120 | 2151 | State | 016709 | Reimbursement for expenses incurred by House aide | Text | |
| 790121 | 0223 | State | 016991 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Great Britain | Text | |
| 790122 | 1305 | Georgetown | 0306 8774 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790122 | 1308 | Georgetown | 0309 8777 | Report on prison visit to Charles Beikman | Text | |
| 790122 | 1309 | Georgetown | 0310 8778 | Report on prison visit to Larry Layton | Text | |
| 790122 | 1310 | Georgetown | 0311 8779 | Report on prison visit to Stephan Jones | Text | |
| 790122 | 2108 | Port of Spain | 0269 3583 | PT Assets In Trinidad And Tobago | Text | |
| 790123 | 0840 | Bern | 0386 7604 | Snafu on request for PT Funds In Switzerland | Text | |
| 790123 | 1202 | Georgetown | 0318 8782 | Death Certificate correction on Alvin Simon | Text | |
| 790123 | 1217 | Georgetown | 0324 8788 | Processing of Death Certificates | Text | |
| 790123 | 1222 | Georgetown | 0329 8792 | Disposition Of Temple Property In Guyana | Text | |
| 790123 | 1223 | Georgetown | 0330 8793 | Funeral Parlor Expenses for Kaituma Victims | Text | |
| 790123 | 1617 | Georgetown | 0338 8800 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790123 | 1617 | Georgetown | 0339 8801 | Notes Of Evidence Taken During Coroner’s Inquest | Text | |
| 790123 | 1623 | State | 018272 | State asks for accounting of CODEL costs | Text | |
| 790123 | 1902 | Bridgetown | 0274 7230 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Grenada | Text | |
| 790124 | 1119 | Georgetown | 0350 8810 | Death Certificate corrections | Text | |
| 790124 | 1410 | Nassau | 0210 2203 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Nassau | Text | |
| 790125 | 1052 | Georgetown | 0375 8818 | Trial date set for Layton | Text | |
| 790125 | 1356 | Georgetown | 0380 8821 | Embassy provides accounting of CODEL costs | Text | |
| 790125 | 1401 | Georgetown | 0385D 8825 | Correction to previous cable | Text | |
| 790125 | 1850 | Georgetown | 0373 8816 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790125 | 1930 | Georgetown | 0389 8829 | Paula Adams to travel to US | Text | |
| 790125 | 1955 | Georgetown | 0390 8830 | GOG official to Attend SCLC Meeting On Temple | Text | |
| 790125 | 2010 | Georgetown | 0391 8831 | GOG Approves Loan Of Evidentiary Material From Jonestown Tragedy | Text | |
| 790125 | 2104 | State | 020188 | Crimmins To Visit Guyana In Study Of USG Relationship With Temple | Text | |
| 790126 | 0118 | State | 020612 | Stephan Jones may have homicide charges dropped | Text | |
| 790126 | 1546 | Georgetown | 0409 8836 | No newspaper accounts of Temple basketball team in G-town for tournament | Text | |
| 790126 | 1547 | Georgetown | 0410 8837 | Jonestown tapes shipped to New York | Text | |
| 790126 | 1548 | Georgetown | 0411 8837 | Paula Adams still in Guyana | Text | |
| 790126 | 2004 | Port of Spain | 0342 3619 | Albatross III expected to depart, headed for Georgetown | Text | |
| 790127 | 1317 | Georgetown | 0434 8848 | Death Certificate corrections | Text | |
| 790127 | 1318 | Georgetown | 0435 8949 | Stephan Jones charges still pending | Text | |
| 790127 | 2221 | State | 023077 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Port of Spain | Text | |
| 790129 | 1636 | Georgetown | 0447 8854 | GOG official to Attend SCLC Meeting On Temple | Text | |
| 790129 | 1745 | Georgetown | 0449 8855 | GOG shake-up includes fallout from Jonestown | Text | |
| 790129 | 1746 | Georgetown | 0450 8856 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790130 | 1157 | Port of Spain | 0367 3634 | PT Assets In Trinidad And Tobago | Text | |
| 790130 | 1836 | Georgetown | 0476 8870 | Guyana Inquest materials to be transported to DC | Text | |
| 790131 | 0542 | State | 025711 | State to reimburse funeral expenses for Kaituma victims | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790201 | 1255 | Georgetown | 0496 8884 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790201 | 1256 | Georgetown | 0497 8885 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790205 | 1303 | Georgetown | 0549 8094 | Preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790206 | 1342 | Georgetown | 0561 8908 | List of presumed dead sent from Dover to Embassy | Text | |
| 790206 | 1346 | Georgetown | 0565 8912 | Consular officer visits Stephan Jones in prison | Text | |
| 790206 | 1652 | State | 031525 | Status of query into Peoples Temple Funds In Switzerland | Text | |
| 790206 | 1855 | Georgetown | 0576 8920 | Summary of preliminary inquiry into Amos murders | Text | |
| 790206 | 1858 | Georgetown | 0577 8921 | Beikman bound over for trial in Amos murders | Text | |
| 790206 | 2114 | State | 031827 | Query into repatriation funds for JT survivors | Text | |
| 790207 | 0558 | State | 032545 | Query into possible Jonestown victim | Text | |
| 790207 | 1217 | Georgetown | 0585 8926 | Request for administrative assistance within US embassy | Text | |
| 790207 | 1740 | Georgetown | 0589 8928 | Travel arrangements for US official to meet with Embassy | Text | |
| 790207 | 2328 | State | 032676 | State seeks single listing for Guyanese Death Certificates | Text | |
| 790208 | 0013 | State | 032688 | House Committee staff wish to interview Guyanese | Text | |
| 790208 | 1900 | Georgetown | 0609 8939 | House Committee staff wish to interview Guyanese | Text | |
| 790209 | 1258 | Georgetown | 0617 8943 | Consular officer visits Chuck Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790209 | 1259 | Georgetown | 0618 8944 | Charges against Stephan Jones dropped | Text | |
| 790209 | 1302 | Georgetown | 0621 8947 | Mootoo to attend seminar in US | Text | |
| 790209 | 1303 | Georgetown | 0622 8948 | Travel arrangements for Embassy official | Text | |
| 790209 | 1831 | State | 034474 | State Dept reflects on goals in Guyana and Jonestown | Text | |
| 790209 | 1842 | State | 034486 | Travel arrangements for Embassy official | Text | |
| 790210 | 1412 | Georgetown | 0634 8954 | GOG Files Legal Charges For Recovery Of Damages from PT | Text | |
| 790212 | 1100 | Georgetown | 0636 8955 | Information For Ambassador Crimmins | Text | |
| 790212 | 1103 | Georgetown | 0638 8956 | Layton trial postponed one week | Text | |
| 790212 | 1106 | Georgetown | 0641 8959 | Embassy has no records on alleged Jonestown victim | Text | |
| 790212 | 1608 | Georgetown | 0652 8968 | Listing of Temple survivors who owe repatriation debt | Text | |
| 790212 | 2010 | State | 036840 | Legal Action Filed By GOG Against Peoples Temple | Text | |
| 790212 | 2216 | State | 037167 | Additional Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790213 | 1345 | Caracas | 1331 5739 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Venezuela | Text | |
| 790213 | 1839 | Georgetown | 0690 8982 | Burnham discusses PT during informal press conference | Text | |
| 790213 | 1940 | Georgetown | 0692 8984 | Stephan Jones seeks to return to US | Text | |
| 790214 | 0320 | State | 038083 | State forwards more questions from House committee | Text | |
| 790214 | 0332 | State | 038092 | Dr. Layton responds to son’s questions from Georgetown jail | Text | |
| 790214 | 1100 | Georgetown | 0697 8989 | Embassy suggests US drop Jonestown as policy issues | Text | |
| 790214 | 1725 | Georgetown | 0699 8990 | Embassy response to GOG Claims For Recovery Of Damages | Text | |
| 790215 | 0745 | State | 038962 | Dr. Layton forwards money to son in Georgetown jail | Text | |
| 790216 | 0128 | State | 039612 | Relative of alleged JT victim seeks death certificate | Text | |
| 790216 | 0620 | State | 040100 | More Temple members to return to US | Text | |
| 790216 | 1311 | Georgetown | 0729 9007 | GOG needs files for additional time | Text | |
| 790216 | 1937 | Georgetown | 0744 9018 | Stephan Jones travel plans | Text | |
| 790216 | 2000 | Georgetown | 0745 9019 | Answers to committee’s questions | Text | |
| 790214 | 2306 | Panama | 1224 1128 | Peoples Temple Funds In Panama | Text | |
| 790219 | 1520 | Georgetown | 0756 9026 | Layton trial begins | Text | |
| 790220 | 1142 | Georgetown | 0760 9027 | Death certificate for Ronnie Dennis | Text | |
| 790220 | 1143 | Georgetown | 0761 9028 | Death certificate for Henry Logan | Text | |
| 790221 | 1130 | Georgetown | 0777 9033 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790221 | 1131 | Georgetown | 0778 9034 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790221 | 1715 | Georgetown | 0824 9043 | FBI and Secret Service seeks whereabouts of Lee Ingram | Text | |
| 790221 | 2320 | State | 043608 | Dept forwards cable to FBI and Secret Service | Text | |
| 790221 | 2320 | State | 043610 | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790222 | 1735 | Georgetown | 0816 9048 | Embassy memo on extra work created by JT | Text | |
| 790223 | 0547 | State | 044562 | Travel Of Sky Marshals | Text | |
| 790223 | 1856 | State | 044796 | U.S. Final Policy Statement towards Guyana | Text | |
| 790223 | 2155 | Kingston | 1400 5898 | Kingston reports on Lee Ingram’s travel to US | Text | |
| 790226 | 1847 | Georgetown | 0854 9063 | Embassy clains press of business of PT matters | Text | |
| 790226 | 1848 | Georgetown | 0855 9064 | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790226 | 2337 | State | 046957 | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790227 | 1602 | Georgetown | 0872 9073 | Disposition Of Shipping Crates Consigned To Peoples Temple | Text | |
| 790227 | 1756 | London | 4060 5030 | Protection Of U.S. Interests: Peoples Temple Assets In UK | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790301 | 1600 | Georgetown | 0909 9088 | Report on Layton trial | Text | |
| 790301 | 1730 | Georgetown | 0916 9090 | Embassy Requested To Obtain Various Records for US Justice Dept | Text | |
| 790301 | 1917 | London | 04278 5155 | Protection Of U.S. Interests: Peoples Temple Assets In UK | Text | |
| 790301 | 1923 | Nassau | 481 2377 | Protection Of U.S. Interests: Temple Assets In Nassau | Text | |
| 790301 | 1925 | Georgetown | 0918 9092 | Report on Layton trial | Text | |
| 790302 | 0138 | State | 050207 | HFAC Investigation Of Ryan Assassination | Text | |
| 790302 | 1252 | Georgetown | 0923 9093 | Resignation of GOG official linked to Jonestown | Text | |
| 790302 | 1822 | State | 050727 | Address of Temple survivor who owes on repatriation | Text | |
| 790302 | 1825 | Georgetown | 0939 9099 | HFAC Investigation Of Ryan Assassination | Text | |
| 790302 | 2211 | State | 051073 | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790303 | 0042 | State | 051483 | HFAC Investigation Of Ryan Assassination | Text | |
| 790303 | 1450 | Georgetown | 0942 9101 | HFAC Investigation Of Ryan Assassination | Text | |
| 790305 | 2216 | State | 054227 | Disposition Of Shipping Crates Consigned To Peoples Temple | Text | |
| 790306 | 1313 | Georgetown | 0973 9119 | Jonestown Social Security Cheques | Text | |
| 790306 | 1400 | Georgetown | 0983 9120 | US Pledges Cooperation In Resolving Jonestown Problems | Text | |
| 790306 | 1939 | Georgetown | 0993 9129 | McKay urges judge in Layton trial to recuse self | Text | |
| 790307 | 1335 | Georgetown | 1008 9132 | HFAC Staff to travel to Guyana | Text | |
| 790307 | 1612 | Georgetown | 1017 9137 | Temple Members With Control Of Temple Assets | Text | |
| 790307 | 1755 | Georgetown | 1028 9139 | Report on Layton trial | Text | |
| 790308 | 1110 | Georgetown | 1036 9141 | Missing page from Guyana Inquest | Text | |
| 790308 | 1710 | Georgetown | 1041 9144 | Embassy staff requests attorney during HFAC visit | Text | |
| 790309 | 2146 | State | 058518 | Temple Assets; Litigation; Evidentiary Requests | Text | |
| 790312 | 1800 | Georgetown | 1108 9162 | Zablocki asks Burnham for OK to interview GOG | Text | |
| 790313 | 1621 | Georgetown | 1116 9168 | Funeral expenses for Kaituma victims | Text | |
| 790314 | 1240 | Georgetown | 1148 9177 | GOG replies to Zablocki letter | Text | |
| 790314 | 1706 | State | 062734 | Travel arrangements for HFAC staff | Text | |
| 790314 | 2256 | State | 063145 | HFAC staff raises questions about security | Text | |
| 790315 | 1108 | Georgetown | 1135 9185 | Temple Assets in Litigation; Evidentiary Requests | Text | |
| 790315 | 1420 | Georgetown | 1158 9187 | Embassy discusses HFAC staff concerns | Text | |
| 790316 | 0137 | State | 064189 | HFAC chairman replies to GOG | Text | |
| 790316 | 1100 | Georgetown | 1170 9194 | Travel arrangements for HFAC staff | Text | |
| 790316 | 1800 | Georgetown | 1193 9203 | Embassy delivers Zablocki letter | Text | |
| 790319 | 1632 | Georgetown | 1213 9214 | Death tape to be sold commercially | Text | |
| 790322 | 1730 | Curacao | 0253 4309 | Protection Of U.S. Interests on PT Assets: Curacao | Text | |
| 790323 | 1324 | Georgetown | 1286 9250 | Embassy responds to SSA request for entry dates for Jonestown residents | Text | |
| 790323 | 1831 | Georgetown | 1298 9256 | San Francisco Grand Jury Requests DCM Testimony | Text | |
| 790324 | 2357 | State | 073947 | State advises Embassy on FOIA/Privacy Act Requests | Text | |
| 790325 | 0728 | State | 074517 | Litigation In Guyana; Jonestown Tapes | Text | |
| 790326 | 1112 | Georgetown | 1304 9259 | Discussion of commercial venture in Guyana references PT | Text | |
| 790326 | 1730 | Georgetown | 1322 9272 | Mootoo discusses “misunderstandings” | Text | |
| 790327 | 0235 | State | 075861 | Funeral expenses for Gregory Robinson | Text | |
| 790327 | 1206 | Georgetown | 1330 9272 | Expenses for HFAC staff | Text | |
| 790327 | 1207 | Georgetown | 1331 9275 | HFAC staff reports on interviews | Text | |
| 790327 | 1628 | Georgetown | 1344 9280 | Guyana police report on Temple members travel, pre-11/18 | Text | |
| 790328 | 0214 | State | 076818 | Funeral expenses for Gregory Robinson | Text | |
| 790329 | 1650 | Georgetown | 1402 9304 | GOG replies to second Zablocki letter | Text | |
| 790329 | 1905 | Georgetown | 1404 9306 | Janet Jagan seeks US reporter working on JT story | Text | |
| 790330 | 1732 | State | 079221 | Emergency Relief Committee Plan For Disposal Of Bodies | Text | |
| 790330 | 2330 | State | 079996 | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 790330 | 2341 | State | 080014 | State seeks Mootoo’s toxicology reports | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790402 | 1116 | Georgetown | 1433 9322 | Dwyer reschedules Grand Jury testimony | Text | |
| 790402 | 1658 | State | 081786 | Dwyer Grand Jury testimony reschedule | Text | |
| 790403 | 1815 | Georgetown | 1471 9344 | Guyana Commission To Investigate Jonestown Tragedy | Text | |
| 790405 | 1555 | Georgetown | 1539 9363 | Embassy addresses Secret Service and FBI request for Guyana presence | Text | |
| 790405 | 1847 | Georgetown | 1544 9367 | Funeral expenses for Gregory Robinson | Text | |
| 790405 | 1855 | Georgetown | 1552 9372 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790406 | 1906 | Georgetown | 1585 9387 | US Treasury Checks Of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790408 | 2121 | State | 88361 | Disposition Of Remains Of Jonestown Guyana Victims | Text | |
| 790409 | 1355 | Georgetown | 1600 9397 | Personal Effects Of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790409 | 2056 | State | 88624 | NBC will pick up expenses for its Kaituma victims | Text | |
| 790412 | 1101 | Georgetown | 1696 9440 | US decided not to sue Peoples Temple in Guyana | Text | |
| 790413 | 0004 | State | 91863 | State asks Embassy to retain US Treasury checks | Text | |
| 790416 | 2054 | State | 95709 | FBI to travel to Guyana | Text | |
| 790417 | 1730 | Georgetown | 1740 9460 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790417 | 1731 | Georgetown | 1741 9461 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790418 | 1712 | Georgetown | 1755 9465 | U.S. Treasury checks for JT survivors | Text | |
| 790419 | 1716 | Georgetown | 1768 9470 | FBI given permission to come to Guyana | Text | |
| 790420 | 0327 | State | 99381 | Layton attorney in US asks for assistance | Text | |
| 790420 | 0552 | State | 99506 | US Adheres To Understandings With GOG Relating To Jonestown | Text | |
| 790420 | 1235 | Bridgetown | 1486 8070 | Deceased American citizen in Virgin Islands had contact with Jones | Text | |
| 790420 | 2157 | State | 100212 | Embassy rents warehouse for Effects Of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790421 | 1528 | State | 101322 | Refusal of witnesses to return to Guyana threatens Layton trial | Text | |
| 790423 | 1017 | Georgetown | 1828 9502 | Embassy still seeks Mootoo reports | Text | |
| 790423 | 2014 | Panama | 2970 2092 | Ripple effects of US requests for Temple money from Panama | Text | |
| 790424 | 0136 | State | 102782 | Guyana death certificates | Text | |
| 790427 | 1304 | Georgetown | 1903 9541 | Embassy discusses Jonestown as “trip wire” for Burnham | Text | |
| 790427 | 1816 | Georgetown | 1915 9548 | Embassy officer reveals tapes made on November 18 | Text | |
| 790430 | 1107 | Georgetown | 1924 9550 | Embassy provides additional entry dates to SSA | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790502 | 2030 | Panama | 3192 2240 | Embassy seeks retention of counsel for PT matters | Text | |
| 790503 | 2301 | State | 112438 | Washington Star Article On Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790504 | 1445 | State | 113321 | New York Times Article On Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790504 | 1453 | State | 113323 | Washington Post Article On Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790504 | 1607 | Georgetown | 1988 9581 | Embassy upset over release of Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790504 | 1620 | State | 113380 | State Responds To Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790504 | 2241 | State | 113907 | State Responds To Ambassador’s Complaint about Report | Text | |
| 790505 | 0021 | State | 113954 | Excerpts of Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790505 | 1157 | Georgetown | 2011 9593 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790505 | 1350 | Georgetown | 2018 9598 | Temple members signed forms for GOG upon entry | Text | |
| 790507 | 1731 | Georgetown | 2023 9600 | Progress On Layton Trial | Text | |
| 790509 | 1710 | State | 117395 | Rebecca Moore to visit Guyana | Text | |
| 790512 | 1259 | Georgetown | 2095 9627 | More comments On Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790513 | 1451 | State | 122160 5192 | FBI requests for evidence in Guyana includes “Death Tape” | Text | |
| 790514 | 1202 | Georgetown | 2098 9629 | Funeral Expenses Of Ryan Party | Text | |
| 790515 | 1243 | Georgetown | 2126 9643 | Rebecca Moore visit to Guyana | Text | |
| 790515 | 1645 | Georgetown | 2136 9649 | Alleged US-Guyana prisoner exchange may include Layton | Text | |
| 790515 | 2013 | State | 123670 | House committee report on Jonestown | Text | |
| 790518 | 1814 | Georgetown | 2214 9683 | Privacy Act Affect Handling Of Reporting On American Citizens | Text | |
| 790518 | 1825 | Georgetown | 2222 9684 | Update on Beikman and Layton trials | Text | |
| 790522 | 1024 | Georgetown | 2254 9696 | Request For DCM Appearance Before Grand Jury | Text | |
| 790522 | 2032 | State | 130528 | Jack Anderson column on Jonestown | Text | |
| 790523 | 1650 | Georgetown | 2292 9718 | Guyana Mortuary Expenses For Assassinated NBC TV Newsmen | Text | |
| 790524 | 1830 | Georgetown | 2329 9727 | Guyana Mortuary Expenses For Assassinated NBC TV Newsmen | Text | |
| 790525 | 1205 | State | 133706 | Allegations Of GOG Intention To Extradite Guyanese From US | Text | |
| 790525 | 2249 | State | 134293 | Crimmins/Carpenter Report On Peoples Temple | Text | |
| 790526 | 0138 | State | 134540 | Recovered U.S. Treasury Checks | Text | |
| 790529 | 1206 | Georgetown | 2361 9743 | Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790529 | 1410 | Georgetown | 2362 9744 | Paula Adams Reported In U.S. | Text | |
| 790530 | 1717 | Georgetown | 2384 9744 | Privacy Act, FOIA Guidance in requests for Temple info | Text | |
| 790531 | 1757 | Georgetown | 2411 9768 | FBI requests Death Tape be made available | Text | |
| 790531 | 1859 | Georgetown | 2418 9774 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790601 | 1741 | State | 140300 | Privacy Act, FOIA Guidance in requests for Temple info | Text | |
| 790605 | 1621 | Georgetown | 2485 9817 | Privacy Act, FOIA Guidance in requests for Temple info | Text | |
| 790606 | 1840 | Georgetown | 2498 9823 | Local Press Commentary On Congressional Report On Jonestown | Text | |
| 790607 | 1858 | State | 146374 | Press coverage of Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790607 | 1901 | State | 146388 | Press Report On Rebuttal of Crimmins/Carpenter Report | Text | |
| 790607 | 2050 | State | 146628 | Guyanese Immigration Records and FOIA | Text | |
| 790608 | 2214 | State | 147424 | Death Certificate on Dana Berry | Text | |
| 790610 | 0521 | State | 149393 | Ryan Funeral Expenses | Text | |
| 790613 | 1155 | Georgetown | 2622 9874 | Guyanese Immigration Records not considered public records | Text | |
| 790613 | 1910 | Georgetown | 2663 9885 | Larry Layton’s release said to be imminent | Text | |
| 790614 | 1648 | Georgetown | 2681 9889 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790614 | 1649 | Georgetown | 2682 9890 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790614 | 2312 | State | 153251 | Info on Willie Lee Graham/ Willie Bowie | Text | |
| 790615 | 1330 | Georgetown | 2693 9896 | Government Official Replies To Criticism Of GOG Re Jonestown | Text | |
| 790615 | 1928 | Georgetown | 2715 9901 | Ryan Funeral Expenses | Text | |
| 790615 | 1929 | Georgetown | 2717 9902 | Embassy claims need for assistance due to JT demands | Text | |
| 790615 | 2037 | State | 154216 | Embassy to allow events run their course in Layton trial in Guyana | Text | |
| 790622 | 1711 | Georgetown | 2816 9938 | Report on Beikman trial | Text | |
| 790629 | 0448 | State | 167626 | Money placed in account for Larry Layton | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790706 | 1216 | Georgetown | 2982 0012 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790706 | 1217 | Georgetown | 2983 0013 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790710 | 1417 | Georgetown | 3027 0044 | Personal Effects Of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790711 | 1612 | Georgetown | 3062 0062 | Death Certificates for Kaituma victims | Text | |
| 790718 | 1232 | Georgetown | 3180 0106 | Dwyer testifies before grand jury; PT litigation | Text | |
| 790718 | 1754 | Georgetown | 3187 0113 | DOD Purchases Of Gas During Jonestown Operations | Text | |
| 790718 | 1756 | Georgetown | 3188 0114 | DOD Purchases Of Gas During Jonestown Operations | Text | |
| 790718 | 1935 | State | 185625 | Probe into Possible Victim In Jonestown | Text | |
| 790718 | 2217 | State | 185986 | Checks and Personal Effects of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790720 | 1325 | Georgetown | 3214 0126 | Receiver in Calif. to work with GOG | Text | |
| 790723 | 1611 | Georgetown | 3226 0134 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790723 | 1613 | Georgetown | 3227 0135 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790724 | 1504 | State | 191978 | Privacy Act, FOIA Guidance in requests for Temple info | Text | |
| 790724 | 1924 | Georgetown | 3273 0157 | Underground paper charges Jones paid bribes to GOG | Text | |
| 790726 | 1632 | Georgetown | 3303 0175 | Personal Effects Of Jonestown Decedents | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790803 | 1458 | Bern | 4379 9006 | Peoples Temple Funds In Switzerland | Text | |
| 790803 | 1750 | Georgetown | 3459 0242 | Litigation over PT assets | Text | |
| 790807 | 1817 | Georgetown | 3494 0258 | Jonestown Material, Social Security Checks at Warehouse | Text | |
| 790807 | 1820 | Georgetown | 3497 0261 | Temple records destroyed in Ministry’s fire | Text | |
| 790810 | 1237 | Georgetown | 3557 0299 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 790810 | 1238 | Georgetown | 3558 0300 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 790814 | 0155 | State | 211536 | Personal Effects Of Jonestown Decedents | Text | |
| 790817 | 2120 | State | 215836 | Death certificates needed to process Panamanian bank claims | Text | |
| 790823 | 1357 | Georgetown | 3774 0403 | Embassy reports results of conversation with Skip Roberts | Text | |
| 790824 | 1133 | Georgetown | 3793 0414 | Ryan’s Funeral Expenses | Text | |
| 790824 | 2155 | State | 222981 | Death certificates needed for Chlotile Butler | Text | |
| 790831 | 1717 | Georgetown | 3950 0486 | Death certificates to be carried to Washington | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 790904 | 1620 | Georgetown | 3970 0511 | Death certificates en route to Washington | Text | |
| 790910 | 1853 | Georgetown | 4073 0565 | Source of letter to McCoy named as Gregory Rose | Text | |
| 790911 | 1100 | Georgetown | 4076 0566 | US cooperation with Guyana on Jonestown remains good | Text | |
| 790921 | 0938 | State | 248057 | House committee asks for update on GOG inquiry | Text | |
| 790921 | 1847 | Georgetown | 4267 0636 | Embassy uncovers more material on JT for FBI | Text | |
| 790925 | 1835 | Georgetown | 4335 0664 | GOG has not moved on promised commission of inquiry | Text | |
| 790928 | 1424 | Georgetown | 4404 0695 | FBI has not furnished promised materials to Skip Roberts | Text | |
| 790928 | 1435 | Georgetown | 4415 0701 | Embassy discusses L. Layton trial | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 791001 | 1617 | Georgetown | 4437 0708 | Embassy has copy of Layton written confession | Text | |
| 791019 | 1325 | Georgetown | 4750 0835 | Consular visit to Layton in prison | Text | |
| 791023 | 1215 | Georgetown | 4787 0856 | Oral confession of Layton | Text | |
| 791023 | 1910 | Georgetown | 4807 0866 | Preliminary inquiry of Layton to begin | Text | |
| 791025 | 1909 | Georgetown | 4837 0886 | Request for Vern Gosney and Odell Rhodes to return to Guyana for Layton trial | Text | |
| 791026 | 1757 | State | 279635 | Peoples Temple Property And Treasury Checks | Text | |
| 791026 | 1938 | State | 279701 | Witnesses arrive for Layton trial | Text | |
| 791029 | 1553 | State | 281913 | Progress of Layton prosecution | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 791101 | 1400 | Georgetown | 4919 | Gosney, Rhodes testify in preliminary hearing | Text | |
| 791106 | 1529 | Georgetown | 4969 0960 | Fourth day of preliminary hearing in Layton trial; Secret Service check | Text | |
| 791107 | 1410 | Georgetown | 4981 0968 | Third day of preliminary hearing in Layton trial | Text | |
| 791108 | 1906 | Georgetown | 5010 0987 | Progress of Layton prosecution | Text | |
| 791116 | 1300 | Georgetown | 5080 1018 | Tort Claims Against USG For Negligence In Kaituma Deaths | Text | |
| 791116 | 1306 | Georgetown | 5086 1021 | Peoples Temple Property And Treasury Checks | Text | |
| 791116 | 1906 | Georgetown | 5106 1032 | Guyana produces report on Jonestown tragedy | Text | |
| 791120 | 1916 | Georgetown | 5152 1064 | Report on Layton trial | Text | |
| 791130 | 1708 | Georgetown | 5308 1147 | Consular visit to Beikman in prison | Text | |
| 791130 | 1950 | State | 303200 | Disposition Of Remains Of Carol Joyce And Albert Touchette | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 791203 | 0552 | State | 311371 | Tort Claims Against USG For Negligence In Kaituma Deaths | Text | |
| 791203 | 1235 | Georgetown | 5325 1160 | Legal Fee Of Guyanese Attorney Retained by US Embassy | Text | |
| 791209 | 1155 | State | 317851 | Tort Claims Against USG For Negligence In Kaituma Deaths | Text | |
| 791212 | 0140 | State | 320179 | Guyana Plans to Accept Hmong Refugees at Jonestown | Text | |
| 791212 | 1243 | Georgetown | 5443 1114 | Embassy Receives Copy of Mark Lane’s Book | Text | |
| 791217 | 1834 | State | 324921 | Guyana Plans to Accept Hmong Refugees at Jonestown | Text | |
| 791220 | 1936 | State | 327918 | US to consult with GOG authorities in Layton trial | Text | |
| 791227 | 1628 | Georgetown | 5678 1330 | Judicial Assistance: U.S. v. Layton | Text | |
| 791229 | 1152 | Georgetown | 5712 1351 | Guyana Plans to Accept Hmong Refugees at Jonestown | Text |
The cables at the basis of this research come from a variety of sources.
• The bulk of them came from the State Department itself, in response to a Freedom of Information request for documents on Jonestown and Peoples Temple. The request was made by Rebecca Moore and Fielding McGehee, who eventually became the managers of this website. Of the 5700 pages that State released in 1981, fully 3000 were cables dating from 1974 until 1981, most of them from November and December of 1978 and early 1979.
• A smaller collection from the State Department came in response to another FOIA request, this one for what the agency had on the custody battle over John Victor Stoen, a battle waged by Timothy and Grace Stoen, primarily against Jim Jones.
• The second most productive official source was the FBI, which released many State Department cables collected during the FBI’s investigation of the Leo Ryan assassination (RYMUR).
• In 2014, the State Department released thousands of agency files as part of a general declassification review. Hundreds of those related to Peoples Temple. They didn’t become widely available to the public, however, until 2015 and 2016, when Wikileaks put them online. While the resulting record was neither official nor complete – there are scores of cables that the State Department continues to withhold and that Wikileaks didn’t access – the texts that Wikileaks posted are accurate.
It should be noted that many cables contain information which was deleted under an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act. The majority of those cables were eventually re-released with the exemptions lifted. The more-recently declassified passages appear in red type of the text version of the cables.
The most commonly-used exemptions by State are:
b(1) = information the release of which would jeopardize national security
b(6) = information the release of which would violate an individual’s privacy
This is a key to the meaning of the columns and the notations within them:
Columns 1 and 2 comprise the dates and times that the cables were sent. The dates are in the format of the last two digits of the year (74-79), the month (01-12) and the day. As an example, November 18, 1978 would be designated as 781118. The times are in Greenwich Mean Time, used internationally on all cables. They are included because – especially in the first few days after the tragedy – scores of cables were flashing back and forth between offices on a single day.
Columns 3 comprises the government agencies and embassies sending the cables. Abbreviations include:
State = State Department
Georgetown = U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana
POS = U.S. Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
CAR = U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela
PAN = U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama
Column 4 provides the cable identification number, unique to each document.
Column 5 presents a brief description of the cable’s contents. (The abbreviation “W/W” which appears on numerous cables means “Whereabouts and Welfare,” the State Department’s notation of the checks it makes on American citizens in foreign countries.)
Columns 6 and 7 provide links to the PDF and Text versions of the cables. The PDF indicates whether the cable came pursuant to the general FOIA request of State or to the second request for Stoen documents.
Originally posted on October 18th, 2020.
Last modified on February 27th, 2023.