[Editor’s note: The State Department withheld 25 lines from this cable under the B6 Exemption to the Freedom of Information Act. The withheld portions are noted in green type.]
R 221644Z JAN 80
FR AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1519
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 0314
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, GY (LAYTON, LAURENCE J.), (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: CONOFF’S VISIT TO LAURENCE LAYTON
REF: GEORGETOWN 0075
1. Conoff visited Amcit [American citizen] Laurence Layton in Georgetown prison on January 14, 1980. As per reftel, Embassy had requested and received authorization for private interview with Mr. Layton. Meeting of January 14, 1980, was first of any Conoff with Layton since his arrest during which no prison official was present.
2. Conoff was accompanied by Layton’s US attorney, Antohony [Anthony] Tamburello, who was present during some of the discussions. Conoff did, however, emphasize to Layton, Tamburello, and to prison authorities that Embassy was not participating in discussions of Layton’s legal situation, and that USG [United States Government] concern was limited to questions of detention conditions and undue delays in the judicial process.
[Next 25 lines deleted under Exemption B-6.]
On initiation of legal discussions between Layton and attorney Tamburello, Conoff withdrew from the meeting and returned to Embassy.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED