[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE185986_e.html.]
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STATE 185986
ORIGIN OCS-06
INFO OCT-00 ARA-11 ADS-00 L-03 LOC-01 JUSE-00 CA-01 /022 R
DRAFTED BY CA/OCS/CCS/ARA:JO’KANE:ACM
APPROVED BY CA/OCS/CCS/ARA:JARINI
L/CA:RHENDERSON
/ARA:TFORTUNE
——————093677 190908Z /23
P 182217Z JUL 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
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E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CDES, GY (PEOPLES TEMPLE)
SUBJECT: EFFECTS OF JONESTOWN DECEDENTS
REF: GEORGETOWN 3027
1. DEPT STUDY OF STATUS OF CHECKS AWAITS REPORT OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS STUDY OF APPLICABLE GUYANESE LAW. AFTER RECEIPT OF STUDY STATE, JUSTICE, AND GAO WILL CONFER UPON ULTIMATE DISPOSITION. RESULTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO EMBASSY ASAP.
2. DURING THE INTERIM DEPT SUGGESTS THAT EMBASSY RESPOND TO ANY SPECIFIC REPEAT SPECIFIC REQUEST FOR CHECKS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
3. BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL MULTIPLE CLAIMS FOR THE FUNDS REPRESENTED BY U.S. TREASURY CHECKS ISSUED TO DECEASED
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MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE THE U.S. G. AGENCIES ARE EXAMING THE LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN THIS QUESTION. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A CLAIM TO THIS MONEY, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE NATURE-OF YOUR CLAIM IN WRITING AND FORWARD IT TO GUYANA WORKING GROUP, CA/OCS/CCS/ARA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520.
4. DEPT WILL RESPOND TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF REFTEL IN BODY OF REPORT ON CHECK DISPOSITION.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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