May 22, 1980 • 1634 • Georgetown-State • 2374

P 221634Z MAY 80
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2544
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 2374
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CPRS, CDES, GY (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJECT: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE CRATES
REF: A) STATE 116945, B) GEORGETOWN 240, C) 79 STATE 279635

1. In accordance with Reference A, Embassy Georgetown has discussed the matter of the crates with Sir Lionel Luckhoo, the attorney representing the California People’s Temple Receiver, Robert Fabian. The Embassy reiterated to Sir Lionel that as the crates did not appear to contain personal effects, the Embassy no longer had a consular responsibility for them (References B and C). As assets of the Guyana Peoples Temple organization, therefore, their disposition and that of other Temple assets in Guyana would await the settlement of current legal proceedings on the issue.

2. This same position was expressed to Minister of Health Housing and Labor Hamilton Green, who was coordinator of the Guyanese government’s task force on the People’s Temple.

3. As we have finally reached the decision that the crates are not the responsibility of the consular section, we are anxious to avoid any suggestion that the Embassy may in any way be liable for storage charges which may well be more than the value of the goods concerned.

ROBERTS

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
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UNCLASSIFIED