[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979LONDON04060_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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LONDON 04060 280440Z
ACTION L-03
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 ARA-15 JUSE-00 OCS-06 CA-01 PA-02 /040 W
——————074546 010033Z /21
R 271756Z FEB 79
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5030
UNCLAS LONDON 04060
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CASC, UK, GY (PEOPLES TEMPLE)
SUBJ: PROTECTION OF U.S. INTERESTS: PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN UK
REF: STATE 16991
1. EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED REPLY TO NOTE SENT TO FCO IN COMPLIANCE WITH DEPARTMENT’S INSTRUCTIONS REFTEL. SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT OF NOTE QUOTED BELOW:
2. QUOTE: I HAVE THE HONOUR TO REFER TO YOUR EXCELLENCY’S NOTE NO 6 OF 23 JANUARY REQUESTING THAT HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN ITS ENDEAVOURS TO IDENTIFY AND IMMOBILISE ANY ASSETS OF THE PEOPLES’ TEMPLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIS MATTER, BUT, AS FAR AS WE CAN DETERMINE AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO WAY UNDER ENGLISH LAW IN WHICH HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT CAN ITSELF INTERFERE WITH THESE ASSETS. I AM, HOWEVER, CAUSING FURTHER ENQUIRIES TO BE MADE ON THIS ASPECT AND I WILL LET YOUR EXCELLENCY KNOW THE OUTCOME, TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MOST APPROPRIATE ACTION WHICH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE. IT WOULD APPEAR, HOWEVER, THAT IT MIGHT BE OPEN TO THE UNITED
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STATES GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED THROUGH THE ENGLISH COURTS SO AS TO OBTAIN A GARNISHEE ORDER AGAINST ANY ASSETS THAT MAY BE FOUND IN BRITAIN. UNQUOTE.
BREWSTER [Kingman Brewster, U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain]
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