[Editor’s notes: This 34-page memorandum to the file by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard McCoy includes numerous deletions, almost exclusively under the privacy exemption of the Freedom of Information Act to withhold information on (then-) living people.
[In that context, it is likely that many of the deletions for a single Temple member who met with Embassy staff is Deborah Touchette. She was on the Georgetown staff of the Temple, she attended most meetings with US and Guyanese governmental officials, and she survived.
[In addition, page 24 discusses problems that the Temple had with an unnamed reporter in May of 1978. The identity of the reporter, Kathy Hunter is later confirmed (p. 28) when McCoy writes about the “Hunter episode.”]
State document 1818
December 8, 1978
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Files
FROM: ARA/CAR – Richard A. McCoy
SUBJECT: My Contacts With Peoples Temple in Georgetown
Preface
I arrived in Georgetown August 20, 1976 to begin my assignment as Chief of the Consular section in the Embassy of Georgetown. After my assignment I had heard about an American Agricultural Community located in the North West district that was composed of about 40 people. After my assignment I had heard about an American Agricultural Community located in the North West district that was composed of about 40 people. I was only vaguely aware of their aims and had no direct contact with any of the members until December 1976. My first actual contact came in December 1976 when I received word from the Department that the head of the Peoples Temple church was coming to Guyana with the then Lieutenant [Governor] of California, Marvin [Mervyn] Dymally. I had several short telephone conversations with members of the Temple at the Georgetown office concerning the itinerary of the Lieutenant Governor during his stay in Guyana. I met Dymally and Jones for about an hour and a half during Dymally’s visit which Jones spoke for the most
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part. He seemed to be primarily concerned about CAA activities overseas and particularly in Guyana and the current state of our relations with Guyana.
My next contact did not begin until late August 1977. These contacts with Temple representatives in Georgetown became increasingly frequently as problems began to arise concerning the Jonestown custody case along with allegations of mistreatment and bondage of Temple members which was made public. Some of the meetings were amicable, others were not. In all my contacts with the Temple I maintained an open friendly and objective attitude although this became most difficult as time went on, especially after I assisted [name deleted] in leaving Guyana. Because of the large number of contacts that did occur I had broken them down into monthly segments. Obviously I could not remember all of them or even the conversations that took place. However, starting in June 1978, I did not meet with Temple members by myself either a Vice Council or my Secretary was always present. At all times my contacts with the Temple were conducted bearing in mind these were American citizens who may have been falsely accused, who have a right to their privacy as deliniated [delineated] under the constitution and who
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were American citizens requesting at times assistance or counsel from the Consulate. As a Consular Officer I could not pass judgment on American citizen’s political or religious beliefs or for that matter the way they chose to live their lives. As a Consular Officer, I believe that every American citizen has the right to see his Consul regardless of whether that individual has been accused or in fact is even guilty of serious crimes. I was guided by principles that American citizens are innocent until they are proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. In retrospect, in face of the overwhelming tradgedy [tragedy] that has taken place in Guyana, maybe there is indeed need for the government to be able to become more atrusive of the affairs of American citizens abroad. I also believe it important that I do not get into an adversary relationship with the Temple since I did not believe that I could be effective in assisting those American citizens among the Peoples Temple community who would require assistance. I was constantly concerned about how to resolve this matter, keeping in mind that there were 1000 to 1100 American citizens living in the remote corner of a country under a government whose writ did not adequately cover the region.
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1. August 1977
I telephoned the People’s Temple headquarters to ask whether they had a member named [name deleted]. The answer was from an individual whom I do not remember; she said that they did. I asked where she was. They said in Georgetown. I said would they please ask [name deleted] to stop at the Consulate at her earliest convenience to see me. Temple member said she would and asked what was the problem. I said I didn’t believe it was a problem, but said I had to talk to her. Person said fine and hung up.
NOTE: See my memorandum of conversation with [line deleted]
I telephoned the Peoples Temple about the 23rd of August to inform them that I would be visiting their community some time the last week in August. I explained I could not be more precise about my arrival plans since this would depend upon availability of transportation by the Government from Matthews Ridge to Jonestown and back. She asked what the purpose of my visit was and I said to visit the community and visit with one of the members there, [name deleted]
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Ms. [Paula] Adams asked me what this was all about and I replied that I had to determine her health and well-being in response to a request from Washington to do so. Ms. Adams appeared somewhat upset by my statement and I mentioned to her that I had conducted many similar inquiries throughout the world and that she should not consider this unusual since I anticipated receiving more such requests based upon present articles that have appeared in the United States that were unfavorable to the Temple and the remoteness of where the Agricultural community was located. I said it was very important that [name deleted] be available and be in possession of her passport for proper identification purposes. Ms. Adams said she understood and the conversation was concluded. Early in September I called Peoples Temple and spoke with Paul Adams explaining to her the importance of Jim Jones appearing in court in response to the Guyanese court order. I explained to her that his failure to do so could result in his arrest on Guyanese authorities by having him brought forcibly to Georgetown. I said that I wished to avoid this situation of seeing an American citizen arrested for what I considered to be a minor problem. After Ms. Adams attempted
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to characterize the newly instituted legal proceedings against Jones as unfair and inaccurate, etc. I pointed out to her that I am sure they have a local attorney who would be available to represent there [their] interests in court. She said they would have evidence that Grace Stoen was an unfit mother, and that there was simply no reason for this situation to worsen.
September 19, 1977
(See Memorandum dated September 19 concerning my conversation with Paul Adams concerning [line deleted]
October, 1977
[line deleted] and probably [name deleted] came to my office with information indicating that Grace Stoen was an unfit mother. I told them that giving such information to me meant absolutely nothing since as U.S. Consul I do not pass judgment on people’s morals or reputation, the case was in the courts, and indicated that all parties would have an opportunity to present whatever data they felt was necessary to support their case. Temple representatives appeared not to believe me and continued to press the information on me and I
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continued to point out that it was a waste of both our times. Later in October it was the same group who returned, this time to attack Tim Stoen as well as Grace Stoen. Again I reiterated that person’s morals or reputation made absolutely no difference to me, that I would perform the duties as Counsel and partially and that since the case was in the local courts all parties would have the opportunity to present evidence on their behalf.
November, 1977
[bottom half of page deleted]
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[top half of page deleted]
Later in the month I met with [name deleted] on the Stoen case. They complained what they thought to be biased on the part of the Embassy against the Temple on this case. I pointed out that the policy of the US Government on this case was not to take sides since all the disputees were American citizens. I mentioned the conversation I had with Assistant Secretary Barbara
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Watson at the Port of Spain Counselor conference to assure them of the Embassy’s impartiality of this case. [2/3 of page deleted]
I was informed by Peoples Temple representatives of the death of Emmett Griffith at Jonestown due to
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cancer. According to Peoples Temple representatives cause of death was bone cancer. I was informed that Mr. Griffith had been buried in Georgetown upon the wish of his wife, Mary. I advised Temple representatives that they should secure a local report of death and arrange for Mrs. Griffith to come to the Embassy so that paperwork and an office report of the death of an American citizen abroad could be filed. I also informed the representatives that Mrs. Griffith should bring with her any receipts that she has in her possession for the payment of burial expenses. I said that Mrs. Griffith may be eligible to apply for a lump sum gratuity payment by Social Security, if she and her husband were eligible, and that the surviving members of the family may also be eligible for Social Security annuity.
December, 1977
Mrs. Griffith accompanied by I believe Sharon Amos came to the Consulate to learn, and if possible to complete the formalities pertaining to lump sum gratuity payments and other possible Social Security payments that she may be eligible for. After the conversation with Mrs. Griffith, I determined that
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she was indeed eligible for such benefits and gave her a number of applications for her to complete and informed her of the documents that she would need in order to qualify for these benefits. I met with Mrs. Griffith on one other occasion in December but I cannot recall what the conversation pertained to. Most likely it involved some normal consular question. I had several visits and meetings with Peoples Temple representatives about their desire of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Oliver to visit their sons in Jonestown. Basic question and response of these conversations is continued in (Georgetown telegram 3356, Log N. 59).
January, 1978
Early January I informed the People’s Temple that I would be coming to the community on January 11. I told the representatives that I would have to discuss some inquiries relating to Social Security cases as well as again talking with individual members of the community concerning their activities. I mentioned that the Embassy was continuing to receive numerous requests concerning the health and well-being of individuals at Jonestown, so therefore, I would
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have to see quite a few people. I provided the Temple representatives with a list of some but not all that I wished to see. [A] Temple representative attempted to get other names from me but I avoided giving them to him. Temple representative again complained about what he considered to be harassment. Again I reiterated the position that the Embassy has no axe to grind in these matters, we were simply responding to legitimate requests from the Department of State to determine the well-being of American citizens. I repeated my earlier remarks that given the police reports that had appeared in the United States alleging criminal activity on the part of the Temple it was only normal that relatives of Temple would be concerned and would be inquiry about there well fair [their welfare]. I said obviously the more times a Consular Officer or other persons visited the community and found nothing illegal taking place the better their credibility in refuting such charges would be enhanced. The representative who I believe was Mike Prokes, continued to express his unhappiness and the unhappiness of the community because the US Government would not let them live in peace. I responded that
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I did not wish to cause anyone to be unhappy but that I had a job to do and I would do it. [Name deleted] called about a day later and asked whether [name deleted] could accompany me to Jonestown since she had to return to Jonestown on Temple business. I answered that I had no objection and informed him of when and where we should meet.
[5-line paragraph deleted]
Several days after my visit to Jonestown, Peoples Temple representatives frantically I attempted to [meet with] me because of the Embassy’s assistance to permit the Stoen’s to remain longer in Guyana. (Reference Georgetown telegrams: 0201, 0202, and 0270 Log No. 75, 76 and 80). Temple was very unhappy at the Embassy’s assistance to the Stoen’s and in a meeting on January 16, in their attempt to present information showing Jones as a natural father of John Stoen as well as accusing Tim Stoen of being a transvestite. I responded that Tim
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Stoen’s morals have no bearing on whether I would assist them. That the members actions were solely favored upon proper assistance to American citizens when they have been unfairly treated by a local government. When [Then] Temple representatives charged that the Embassy had never assisted them with Jim Jones who was under the threat of arrest, therefore, we were biased against them. I refuted this statement by pointing out that I had contacted Paula Adams and strongly suggested that Jim Jones appear in court to avoid the necessity of being arrested. I also stated that no one from the Temple had ever asked our assistance on any particular matter. The Temple members continue their lorang [harangue?] for a bit longer and also apparently trying to convince me that Tim and Grace Stoen were anarchists who had been asked to leave the organization because they wanted the Temple to carry out violent acts against the US Government and that Jim Jones and other Consul members had disapproved of such activity and had asked that they leave the organization. I replied that all this information really didn’t mean anything to me that they were just simply going to have to accept the fact that I had a job to do, that I was a professional, and
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that I would do it and that there were times when they were simply not going to like what I do but were going to have to live with it. They then took a different approach to me saying that they understood this and that the community had been impressed with my objectivity and that they continued to believe me but when I went out and helped the Stoen’s and interfered in Government of Guyana activities, then they simply didn’t know what to understand. I concluded the conversation by telling that them the only thing they should understand is that I was going to conduct affairs that I was responsible for, as the US Consul in Georgetown objectively and without bias, which meant that at times this would work against them and I suppose at times this would work for them. I had several other meetings with them. Normally with [names deleted] although at times [names deleted]. Again as usual they came to see me to complain they were not being treated fairly by the Embassy. One complaint they had was that during the recent court hearings I always accompanied the Stoen’s but never the Peoples Temple. I countered that argument by saying that most of the times they never showed up in court. However,
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it really didn’t matter to me who I went to court with although I was not adverse to appear at the court with them, because when I reported court proceedings and reported them exactly as to what occurred so that no one could accuse either me or the Embassy of exerting any bias in this case.
On January 20 I received a frantic phone call from Sharon Amos in which she was very upset over the fact that Tim Stoen had made a complaint at the Tamairi [Timehri] police station that several Peoples Temple members had threatened his life. I told her I was unaware of this but that, of course, if it was true the Guyanese were obviously look upon this complaint very seriously. Amos vociferously denied the allegation and asked for my assistance in stopping the GOG investigation. I answered that I could not stop the investigation since it is my understanding that once a written complaint has been made to the police they would investigate it, and if the threats had not been made then presumably those named in the complaint would have nothing to worry about. Amos said they had contacted the police Commissioner who had professed ignorance of the entire affair. I pointed out that the police
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Commissioner had a lot better things to do than worry about a complaint by an American against other Americans. I asked her did she know where the complaint was made. She replied Tahmari Airport. I said that explains why the police Commissioner is unaware of it. I continued that in any event this was a matter for the criminal investigation division to investigate and now I matter that the police Commissioner would handle personally. [Name deleted] wanted to know what I was going to do about it. I answered that I wasn’t going to do anything about it because I couldn’t do anything about it. She says she couldn’t understand my attitude since I had intervened with the GOG to have Grace and Tim Stoen’s visa’s extended so, therefore, why couldn’t I intervene in this matter. I answered that they were two separate issues and this one was simply one that could not get into. I said I was certain that the competent police authorities would investigate the matter and would determine whether the complaint was justified or not. She asked if I had seen Tim Stoen and I replied that I had not.
Note: Tim Stoen and I later discussed this problem and Stoen decided to withdraw the complaint, since he realized it was going to be strictly his word against the Temple.
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After the charges were formally dropped and I was so informed by the police, I informed the Temple that the police were no longer investigating the matter.
Sometime during January, I believe the early part of the month, [3 lines deleted] launched into a rambling discourse of the bad character of Tim and Grace Stoen and how such a wonderful life John Stoen and in Jonestown. Both Mr. Blacken and I again reiterated the Embassy position. I again pointed out that these accusations that the People’s Temple were bringing against the Stoen’s whether they were true or not, simply did not count with us nor would these accusations in any way lesson the appropriate assistance that we would give to the Stoen’s if necessary. At this point [name deleted] said the community just would not give up John Stoen. Mr. Blacken said if the courts decided against the Peoples Temple and warranted custody of John Stoen to the parents that the court order would be enforced and the Peoples Temple would have to accept it. [Name deleted] then said before they let John (Stoen) go they would all die first. I asked what did she mean by that and she said that they
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would all commit suicide (they were willing to die for him rather than permit him to be returned to a mother who did not love him). I told her to quit talking nonsense that if the case went against them John Stoen would be returned to the parents and that would be that, so I didn’t understand what all this talk about committing suicide was for, because there was no point in discussing that any further. On that cheerful note, I believe the meeting was ended. I had one contact with Peoples Temple to arrange the visit of our Desk Officer and Deputy Chief of Mission on February 2.
February, 1978
I had a number of meetings with the Peoples Temple during this month again relating to the John Stoen custody case. The conversations were along the lines of those that took place during December and January. The only unusual aspect of our conversation was when Mike Prokes of the Temple commented to me that Temple shipments have been held up in Customs both in the US and Guyana and he said that one present shipment they had not been able to get out of Customs for quite some time, even though it contained articles that were clearly on the duty-free immediate list such as medical equipment. He said that this time
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he was formally requesting for Embassy help in clearing the goods for Customs. I responded that the Embassy was not in a position officially to request that the goods be cleared because we could only do this on official US Government shipments into Guyana, but that I would be happy to make a telephone call to a Customs Officer I knew to see what the problem was.
Note: I was aware that the Guyanese Customs Office have been concerned about the large number of Temple shipment that had been entering the country based upon a conversation I had with the Chief of Customs several months previously.
[Name deleted] while not completely happy with my response said that he would appreciate anything I could do to help.
Note: My assistance consisted of a telephone call to the Secretary of the Chief of Customs asking her who the Peoples Temple could contact in this matter. She gave me a name which I later passed on to the Temple. However, I did not telephone Customs and ask that the shipment be cleared expeditiously.
I had one other conversation with Amos, Prokes and Carter in which they informed me extensively
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about congressional interest in the Stoen custody case. They complained that Tim Stoen was making outrageous statements to members of Congress who were pressuring the Department of State to intervene on the side of the Stoen’s. I replied that there is a lot of Congressional interest in the case but I could not characterize it as being for or against the Stoen’s or the Temple, but simply a matter of interest to them in which they were requesting information. I said that the Embassy and the Department of State had replied based upon the position that had been made clear from the very beginning, that since the case was being decided in the local courts neither the Embassy nor the Department could take sides.
Check with Anna for March
Later we can insert it.
ARA/CASR:McCoy:kc
12/8/78 23449
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April, 1978
[deleted line] came to see me to discuss what they claimed to be a planned attack on Jonestown by mercenaries hired in the US by the Concerned Relatives organization. They wanted Embassy assistance in stopping such an attack. I told them that the Embassy was not in a position to provide this kind of assistance since Jonestown was located in Guyana and under the jurisdiction and protection of the Guyanese government and as such any requests for protection would have to be directed to that government. They said that these plans were being developed in the United States by Tim Stoen and others and that they were basically helpless against such an attack. I told them that if any group of American citizens was planning an armed attack against any person or persons it was a violation of American law and as such they should have their members in the United States contact appropriate law enforcement organizations.
In early May I was again visited by [name deleted] and again there to express there [their]
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concern over this alleged mercenary threat in which they complained the community was defenseless and that the people were living in fear. I asked whether they had contacted the Guyanese police and they said that they had, and I reiterated that that was all they could do. That the Embassy was not in a position to assist them in this matter. I reiterated that if they had evidence to support this assertion they should have their people in the United States contact their appropriate American law enforcement agencies that they were responsible for investigating such activity. During these interviews, of which there were several concerning this subject, I recall on at least one occasion of asking them whether the community had any weapons. I was told that there were few weapons but nothing that would protect an attack from a well armed force. At no time during these conversations did I suggest that the Temple should arm themselves.
Also in early May I made arrangements to travel to Jonestown and contacted the Peoples Temple to inform them I was coming. I had a large number of people to see including questions to some about
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whether they had become Guyanese citizens, others about births, and others about mistreatment. I discussed the visit with, I believe, [name withheld] and gave them some names, but by no means all and most of those names I did give them pertained to individuals who I was seeing on normal Consular business. The results of this visit are detailed in another memorandum. I had only two other telephone conversations in the earlier part of the month pertaining to inquiries about [name deleted] that are also detailed in a separate memorandum.
I left Guyana on May 13 and return May 23. On May 24, I was called by the People’s Temple, I believe, by Sharon Amos who asked if I knew anything about a [name deleted]. I replied I didn’t know, since I just returned to Guyana from the United States. Ms. Amos then again launched into a lengthy diatrod [diatribe] about [name deleted] activities in Guyana. I cut her off to say that if [name deleted] was in Jonestown, she should contact the Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy, Mr. Kibble, for any information since I did not normally become involved with Journalists, and that was Mr. Kibble’s responsibility.
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Note: A report concerning [3 lines deleted]
This was a rather bizarre instance as explained in this telegram. The Guyanese police believe the Peoples Temple was responsible for what happened, but they could not prove it, and except for several unofficial opinions of police officers, which would not state for the record the Peoples Temple was responsible. On the evening of May 25, the Marine Security Guard called me at my home and ask that I please telephone Tim Carter that it was an emergency. I contacted Mr. Carter by telephone and he immediately wanted to know why I had been contacting the police earlier that day about the arrests of Peoples Temple members. At this point, for the first time in my contact with Temple representatives, I lost my temper. I told Carter it was none of his god damn business about my contacts with the police. Furthermore, I was very concerned to learn that he had even heard of my inquiry, especially, since I have been very careful not to mention the Peoples Temple in connection with this rumor. I asked Carter if he had a guilty
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conscious [conscience] and had he in fact been arrested for illegal criminal activities against an American citizen because if this was so then this indeed was a very serious matter. I continued that I was also very concerned, and I am sure the Commissioner of Police would be concerned to find out that the Peoples Temple had subourned [suborned] individuals to report to them about official conversations between the American Consul and members of his staff. I asked Carter whether the Peoples Temple was in fact doing this. Carter denied this allegation of subourning police officers and then I asked how else could he find out. Did he have my telephone taped [tapped]? Carter was obviously flustered at this point, he tried again to come back at me and I told him I refused to discuss the matter further, but warned him that if in fact the People’s Temple persisted in involving themselves in such activities with officials of the Government of Guyana, this could affect their entire Mission in Guyana and certainly affect their credibility with me. I then hung up.
Note: I made myself unavailable. I refused contact with the Temple until May 30, when [deleted line] came to see me.
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They expressed concern about my attitude. I told them that my attitude was not surprising since I was very concerned about what apparently was Temple activities, which appeared to be running counter to their assertions of being innocent. I also mentioned to them the fact that I had heard they were also in contact with the Soviet Embassy and asked if they were such a peaceful organization, who only wanted to be left alone, why in fact were they involving themselves with foreign diplomatic Missions. I told them as far as I was concerned they could talk to whom they pleased and invite to Jonestown whom they pleased, but that this activity simply did not jive with what they had been telling me. The trio was obviously not very happy with the way the conversation was going and apologized for Carter’s statements. They said that they were presently concerned about my attitude because there before I had always been friendly and now it appeared I was being hostile to them. I patiently explained to them for what was probably the 100th time that my attitude was neither friendly or hostile, but that I simply did my job based upon the facts that were presented to me, and that they should not con-
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strue my relationship as being one of either support for or against the Peoples Temple.
June, 1978
During the first two weeks of June, I had a number of contacts with the Peoples Temple Which were short because at that time Consular Section was shorthanded. Most of the contact pertained primarily to the Hunter episode during which I reiterated to the Peoples Temple that while I had no official confirmation of their activities, vis-à-vis, [name deleted] they had certainly caused concern of unspecified areas. At this point, Sharon Amos in particular tried very hard to draw me out dictate either a personal or official US government position on the upcoming referendum that was to take place in Guyana on July 10. In every instance, I told her that the referendum was an internal Guyanese affair or which neither I or the Embassy had any position. The US Government believed that the referendum was a matter for the Guyanese people to decide themselves. On a number of occasions, Amos would continue to probe and I would just cut her off by mentioning how busy I was and conversation would be concluded.
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Note: Conversations were always conducted with another Vice Consul present, since the Ambassador believed that for my own protection another officer should always be present at these interviews.
Amos and company came to see me during the later part of June to ask about the status of the Stoen case. I responded that there had been no movement on the case, since the judge had been out of the country for some time, but that I thought he was likely to render a decision within the next 60 days when he returned from his vacation. In late June the Temple came to complain about the actions of two Jonestown families in the National Enquirer. They indicated that these journalists had been to Consulate for assistance. I told them they had been to see me and said they wanted to do a story about the Peoples Temple and I referred them to the Peoples Temple office. I simply assumed that they had contacted the Peoples Temple and that I had not had any further contact with them. When they (Amos[]) pleaded for additional details, I pointed out that their conversation with me would come under the privacy act and that I could not discuss any further details. I closed
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the conversation by stating that this is a matter between the Peoples Temple and the National Enquirer. About a week following this conversation Amos called again in a frantic voice asking for an appointment. When I agreed to see her Arvid Holm who was in Guyana on temporary duties sat in on this and all other conversations I had with the Temple. Amos reported that a private plane had suddenly appeared over Jonestown and circled it several times. This incident caused great consternation in the community and as a result one elderly member had suffered a heart attack. Amos claimed that the Embassy should do something. I responded that the Embassy was not in a position to do anything about this particular incident, that they should report to the authorities, although I wasn’t sure what if any law had been broken. However, this was a matter for the Guyanese government to determine. Amos again went into a liteney [litany] of past stories about mercenary attacks against Jonestown and claimed that the Turtle had a tape from a member of the organization who had been at a meeting of the Concerned Relatives organization when such an attack was discussed. I replied that telling me this really wasn’t going to solve the
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matter because I did not have any authority in which to resolve their problem. If, in fact, the organization had a tape or other evidence that indicated illegal activity about to take place, then they should place it in the hands of the proper authorities in the United States. I suggested that they report the incident if they had not already done so to the Guyanese authorities. I asked if they were able to get the tail number of the airplane. They said they had in fact turned over all this to the Guyanese. I told them then that that was all that could be done.
July, 1978
I had about four meetings with the Peoples Temple over this period all of which Mr. Holm’s was also present. Most of the contacts pertained to my complaints about the failure of the Peoples Temple administration to follow up on getting documents to record the deaths and births of Jonestown residents, and what I could only conclude was an increasing warriness [wariness] on the part of the Temple concerning my attitude toward them. Sharon Amos in particular still attempted to
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show that the Temple considered me a good friend, but since Tim Carter and some others whom I had confrontations with were never present it seemed to me that the Temple knew of my imminent departure from Guyana and was biding their time until I left. I had mentioned to them that I planned to visit Jonestown the first week in August in order to enable my replacement to have the opportunity of visiting Jonestown soon after his arrival in Guyana. [name deleted] seemed to be very interested and concerned about the attitude of the new Consular. I informed her that I could not speak for him, but that I assumed he would run the affairs of the Consulate consistent with rules and regulations set by the Department of State and that if the Temple was truthful and cooperative they would probably get along.
August, 1978
When it became apparent that I would be unable to travel to Jonestown first because of the lack of an available charter plane, and second due to the closure of the Port Kaituma airstrip plus the closure of the road between Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma, the Peoples Temple requested to meet
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my replacement, Don [Doug] Ellice. [Name deleted] thanked me profusely for my cooperation and hope that Temple and Mr. Ellice would have an amicable relationship. I told them that as Consular my door had always been open to all American citizens, including the Temple in order to provide whatever assistance I could. Obviously much more could be accomplished when the atmosphere was amicable rather than in an adversary relationship. I wished them luck and that concluded the interview.
Adendum [Addendum]
I had many more contacts with the Temple then [than] were reported here, however, I can simply not recall the dates of these conversations. For example, on two occasions I was requested by the Temple for possible assistance in the medical evaluations of two Jonestown residents, one a small child with a head injury, the other a young adult male who had his leg injured [Bob Stroud]. In both cases I provided appropriate assistance and advised the Temple. Although in every case it was evident that the injuries were either not as serious as originally told or that there was competent local
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medical service available in Georgetown. On another occasion Mrs. Marceline Jones, Jim Jones’ wife, made a courtesy call on Ambassador Burke accompanied by Sharon Amos and Terri Bueford [Buford]. Nothing of substance was discussed accept [except] for some remarks by Sharon Amos concerning the John Stoen custody case. The Ambassador notwithstanding Ms. Amos’ tears simply said that this was a matter for the courts to decide and that the Peoples Temple and Mr. and Mrs. Stoen would have to abide by the court’s decision whichever way it went.
Note: Neither the Ambassador or I believed Ms. Amos’ tears were authentic.
Drafted by: Richard McCoy
12/8/78