[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979LONDON04278_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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LONDON 04278 032139Z
ACTION L-03
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 JUSE-00 OCS-06 CA-01 ARA-15 /038 W
——————130857 040137Z /64
R 011917Z MAR 79
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5155
UNCLAS LONDON 04278
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, LONDON 4060
1. EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED FURTHER REPLY TO NOTE TO FCO REGARDING PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN UK. SUBSTANTIVE CONTEXT OF NOTE QUOTED BELOW:
2. QUOTE: I PROMISED TO LET YOUR EXCELLENCY KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE FURTHER ENQUIRIES WHICH MY DEPARTMENT WERE MAKING INTO THE REQUEST. I CAN NOW CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NO WAY UNDER ENGLISH LAW IN WHICH HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PEOPLES’ TEMPLE ASSETS BECAUSE HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT HAVE NO CLAIM AGAINST THE PEOPLES’ TEMPLE.
I ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN A GARNISHEE ORDER AGAINST ANY ASSETS OF THE PEOPLES’ TEMPLE IN BRITAIN. IT SHOULD BE ADDED THAT, AS YOUR OWN SOLICITORS WILL NO DOUBT CONFIRM, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A GARNISHEE ORDER AGAINST ANY ASSETS IN ENGLAND ONLY IN THE CONTEXT OF PROCEEDINGS SEEKING SUBSTANTIAL RELIEF BROUGHT IN THIS COUNTRY AGAINST THE PEOPLES’ TEMPLE. AN
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INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION (OR (“MAREVA” INJUNCTION) FREEZING THE ASSETS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE OF THOSE PROCEEDINGS. UNQUOTE.
BREWSTER [Kingman Brewster, U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain]
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