[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE01402_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 01402 291811Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 L-03 H-01 SS-15 SP-02 OCS-06 CA-01 /044 W
——————128042 291816Z /43
P 291650Z MAR 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9304
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 1402
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: OREP, PINS, GY
SUBJ: GOG’S REPLY TO SECOND LETTER OF CHAIRMAN ZABLOCKI, HFAC
REF: GEORGETOWN 1148
1. THE EMBASSY HAS JUST RECEIVED A REPLY TO THE SECOND LETTER ADDRESSED BY REPRESENTATIVE CLEMENT ZABLOCKI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO PRIME MINISTER RE HFAC STAFF DEL INQUIRY INTO THE ASSASSINATION OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND THE MASS MURDERS/ SUICIDES AT JONESTOWN. ORGINAL [ORIGINAL] WILL BE POUCHED TO DEPARTMENT (ATTN ARA/CAR) FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE CAIRMAN. AS WITH THE FIRST GOG REPLY, THIS LETTER HAS ALSO BEEN SIGNED BY PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
2. THE TEXT: QUOTE”
DEAR CONGRESSMAN,
MARCH 28, 1979
I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO REPLY TO YOUR FURTHER LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON JONESTOWN, THE TEXT OF WHICH WAS COMMUNICATED THROUGH LETTER NO. 18 OF 16TH MARCH, 1979, FROM THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR IN GEORGETOWN.
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OUR REGARD FOR THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR OWN PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE ENABLES US TO FOLLOW YOUR STATEMENT THAT THE PROSPECT OF DELAY OR INCOMPLETENESS IN CARRYING OUR YOUR DECISION TO ORDER A COMMITTEE STAFF INVESTIGATION IS ONE WHICH THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD FIND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND; AND I DO NOTE THE REITERATION OF YOUR FIRM BELIEF THAT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION STILL REQUIRES THAT YOUR INVESTIGATORS TALK WITH OFFICIALS IN GUYANA WHO CAN HELP YOUR COMMITTEE ICOMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION.
ON OUR PART, WE ARE FACED WITH THE FACT, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL IMPORT OF WHICH I AM GLAD TO NOTE, THAT SOME OF THOSE OFFICIALS MAY BE REQUIRED TO TESTIFY BEFORE OUR OWN ENQUIRY. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE DIFFICULTY IN RESOLVING THE QUESTION OF PROTOCOL, TO WHICH I ALLUDED IN MY PREVIOUS LETTER, CONCERNING SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THIS GOVERNMENT (WE UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR AMBASSADOR THAT EVEN OUR PRIME MINISTER IS NOT TO BE EXCLUDED) BEING IN EFFECT INTERROGATED BY INVESTIGATORS OF AN EXTERNAL GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY. AS I MENTIONED IN MY EARLIER LETTER, IT IS NOT CONTEMPLATED HERE THAT OUR OWN ENQUIRY WILL BE SEEKING TO EXAMINE GOVERNAMENTAL OFFICIALS IN YOUR COUNTRY.
THESE CONSIDERATIONS CONSTRAIN ME TO SAY WITH THE UTMOST COURTESY THAT THE ONLY DISCOVERABLE METHOD WHEREBY THIS GOVERNMENT CAN WITH PROPRITY SATISFY ITS DESIRE TO ASSIST YOUR COMMITTEE WITH RELEVANT EVIDENCE OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS WOULD BE BY MAKING AVAILABLE TO YOUR COMMITTEE THE REPORT OF OUR OWN JUDICIAL INQUIRY. I REAFFIRM THE OFFER WHICH I CONVEYED TO YOU IN MY EARLIER LETTER TO MAKE THIS MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO YOU ON A BASIS OF RECIPROCITY, AND I AM HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THE PROPOSED EXCHANGE IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU.
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MEANWHILE, I AM GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, IN CONFORMITY WITH OUR PLEDGE OF FULL CO-OPERATION, WE HAVE FACILITATED THE VISIT TO GUYANA OF YOUR STAFF INVESTIGATING GROUP THROUGH THE GRANT OF VISAS AND OTHER RELEVANT ACTS. FURTHER, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM YOUR AMBASSADOR WE HAVE CAUSED ARRAGEMENTS TO BE MADE FOR YOUR COMMITTEE STAFF TO VISIT THE SITE AT JONESTOWN ON MARCH 20, 1979.
ACCEPT, EXCELLENCY, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.
YOURS CO-OPERATIVELY,
H.E . DYETT
PERMANENT SECRETARY
FA: 14/41
HONOURABLE CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI,
CHAIRMAN
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON. ” UNQUOTE.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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