[Editor’s note: This is a cable from the files of the State Department that was included in the FBI’s 2009 RYMUR release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act. It was not included in the State Department’s own release, but we have included identifying information for it using the agency’s designations.
[The FBI withheld a half-line from this cable under the B6 Exemption to the Freedom of Information Act. The withheld portion is noted in green type.]
0 141947Z NOV 80
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4102
RUEHFB/FBI WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEBWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RURHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN IMMEDIATE
BT
CONFIDENTIAL GEORGETOWN 5517
FBI WASHDC PLEASE PASS FBI SAN JUAN AND FBI SAN FRANCISCO
E.O. 12065: 11/14/85 [half line deleted]
TAGS: CARR, GY (LAYTON, LAWRENCE [Laurence])
SUBJ: DEPARTURE OF LAWRENCE LAYTON
REF: GEORGETOWN 5515
1. (C – Entire Text)
2. One of the lawyers for Lawrence Layton, Jai Narine Singh, called Embassy Georgetown’s Consul the afternoon of November 14 to say that he, Singh, had been informed by phone by Layton’s attorney in the US that US marshals were present in Guyana to take Layton back. The Consul denied this. Singh said he was only trying to confirm his information and gave no indication of what he planned to do had US marshals been here.
3. Embassy Georgetown is most concerned by this leak of information. As addressees will recall, the extensive media publicity given to the fact that FBI agents were coming for Layton in October helped trigger the legal action that has resulted in a month’s delay in getting Layton out of here. Should the newly scheduled departure date for Layton (reftel) or travel to Guyana by US marshals become public, we can very possibly expect new legal problems from Singh and others representing Layton. The result could be the release of Layton from jail, a local civil suit and court order preventing him from leaving Guyana, and his ultimate disappearance. He could conceivably never be brought to justice in connection with Congressman Ryan’s murder.
4. Embassy Georgetown wishes to re-emphasize the importance of not disclosing to Layton’s attorney in the US, to the media, or to any other outsiders any information regarding the proposed departure plan.
Roberts [George B. Roberts, Jr., American ambassador to Guyana]
BT
5517