March 5, 1979 • 2216 • State-Georgetown • 54227

[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE054227_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]

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STATE 054227
ORIGIN ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 FBOE-00 A-02 OCS-06 /024 R
DRAFTED BY ARA/EX:WAHYDE:DC
APPROVED BY ARA/EX:GJKRIEGER
ARA/CAR:RMCCOY ARA/EX:JCAO-GARCIA
A/FBO:LPRUITT
ARA/EX:JMCKITTRICK
CA/OCS/CCS:JRINI (PHONE)
——————032597 061356Z /47

R 052216Z MAR 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
UNCLAS STATE 054227

E.O. 12065 N/A
TAGS: AFSP, CDES, GY
SUBJECT: ESTATES – DISPOSITION OF SHIPPING CRATES CONSIGNED TO PEOPLES TEMPLE
REF: GEORGETOWN 872

1. DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS POST FACES IN CONNECTION WITH STORAGE, INVENTORY, HANDLING AND PREPARATION FOR DISPOSITION OF JONESTOWN DECEDENTS’ EFFECTS AND IS PREPARED AUTHORIZE LEGITIMATE AND NECESSARY EXPENDITURES.

2. PARA 5 OF REFTEL INDICATES THAT EMBASSY HAS REJECTED BILL FOR STORAGE FEES PRESENTED BY ONE FREIGHT FORWARDER. BUREAU ENDORSES POST’S ACTION IN THIS INSTANCE AND URGES THAT POST CONTINUE TO ACT WITH EXTREME CAUTION IN RECEIVING

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CONSIGNMENTS WHICH MAY CARRY WITH THEM OBLIGATION FOR PAYMENT OF CHARGES.

3. DEPARTMENT ASSUMES POST HAS CONSIDERED POSSIBILITY OF USING SPACE IN EMBASSY AND/OR AID WAREHOUSES, IF AVAILABLE FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE AND INVENTORY. ADVISE. BEFORE MAKING COMMITMENT FOR RENTAL OF COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE SPACE, POST SHOULD OBTAIN CLOSE ESTIMATE OF COST AND PERIOD OF RENTAL REQUIRED AND REQUEST APPROVAL FROM DEPARTMENT. ADVISE ARA/EX AND A/FBO.

4. HIRING OF MANUAL LABORERS IS AUTHORIZED. IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE, POST SHOULD INDICATE IN NEXT ALLOTMENT ADJUSTMENT REQUEST TO ARA/EX/FM.

5. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PIT EMPLOYEES TO INVENTORY DECEDENTS’ EFFECTS SHOULD BE REQUESTED FROM ARA/EX IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN ARA MANAGEMANT POLICY NO. 1 DATED 2/15/77.

VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]

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