(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.)
R 011809Z DEC 80
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4228
RUEBWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHFB/FBI WASHDC
BT
CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 5703
FBI WASHDC PLEASE PASS FBI SAN JUAN AND FBI SAN FRANCISCO
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, GY
SUBJ: LAURENCE LAYTON
REF: GEORGETOWN 5515
1. Embassy Georgetown wishes to commend US Marshals Howard Turner, Paul Pongrace, and Stanley Holland for the exemplary and professional matter in which they conducted themselves during their stay in Georgetown in connection with the expulsion of Laurence Layton. As Washington agencies are aware, our efforts to get Layton out were earlier complicated by untoward publicity in the US. The marshals were keenly aware of the problem this time and totally cooperative with us in our efforts to act as quietly as possible. We also appreciate Washington’s efforts in this regard. As result, Layton was well on his way to New York before anyone in Guyana outside of the Embassy and a handful of Guyanese government officials knew what had happened. The government-owned “Guyana Chronicle,” in fact, finally reported two days later that Layton was accompanied by the two FBI agents who had been here in October for the same purpose.
2. One problem which did arise with the explosion of Layton was the fact that the marshals arrived in Guyana without passports. Apparently they had been told in Washington that passports were not needed. While immigration authorities were persuaded to let them enter the country, the difficulties at the airport came close to upsetting the entire project. Embassy Georgetown would urge the relevant US agencies to instruct marshals of the need to carry US passports when traveling abroad in the future.
Roberts [George B. Roberts, Jr., American ambassador to Guyana]
BT 5703