[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979PORTO00367_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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PORT O 00367 301158Z
ACTION L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 JUSE-00 OCS-06 CA-01 /022 W
——————113516 310412Z /64
R 301157Z JAN 79
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3634
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PORT OF SPAIN 00367
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CASC, TD, GY (PEOPLES TEMPLE)
SUBJECT: (LOU) PROTECTION OF US INTERESTS VIS-A-VIS PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
REF: A) STATE 23077; B) STATE 16429 AND PREVIOUS
1. (LOU – ENTIRE TEXT)
2. PURSUANT TO INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED REFTELS A AND B, A FORMAL STATEMENT IN THE FORM OF A FIRST-PERSON (AMBASSADOR TO MEA MINISTER) NOTE HAS BEEN LODGED WITH THE GOTT [Government of Trinidad and Tobago].
3. BARCLAYS ACCOUNT WAS CLOSED OUT BY HELEN SWINNEY ON DECEMBER 8. SHE RETURNED TO THE US ON DECEMBER 10. SHE WAS REPORTEDLY QUESTIONED BY THE FBI UPON ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SHE IS PRESENTLY RESIDING WITH A SON IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT THE EXACT ADDRESS UNKNOWN TO THE EMBASSY.
4. THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE ABRAHAM SHIPPING COMPANY IS SAID TO BE A CONVENTIONAL AGENCY/VESSEL ACCOUNT. THE COMPANY SIMPLY COLLECTS THE FREIGHT CHARGES FROM THE CONSIGNEE TO WHOM THE “ALBATROSS III” DELIVERS CARGO, AND THE VESSEL’S OPERATING EXPENSES ARE DISBURSED FROM THE ACCOUNT.
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PLEASE ADVISE IF MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION IS REQUIRED CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE ACCOUNT, AND, IF SO, EXACTLY WHAT IS DESIRED.
FOX [Richard J. Fox, Jr., American Ambassador to Trinidad]
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