[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 79 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.
[The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE296909_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]
0 232212Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 296909
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, CDES
SUBJECT: PROPERTY OF DECEASED AMCITS [American citizens]
REF: A) STATE 296852 B) DALTON/DIKEOS TELCON 11/22/78
1. Ref A authorized you to retain local legal counsel for purpose of obtaining preliminary advice as to potential issues concerning property of deceased Amcits associated with Peoples Temple. This method sets forth more detailed guidance in this connection.
2. As you know, Dept [Department of State] has statutory obligation to make all efforts to obtain custody of personal estates of Amcits who die overseas. We do not have such responsibility with respect to property of organizations such as Peoples Temple.
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PAGE 02 STATE 296909
We assume that ultimate issue on which you require advice is question of determining status under local law of property found in Guyana, i.e. which is property of individual Amcits and which is property of organization. From this standpoint, retention of local counsel would appear useful although U.S. law will also undoubtedly be relevant to question of status of property, and we will wish to maintain close coordination between your efforts and our own in this regard. Please advise us soonest re nature issues under local law which seem relevant to question of status of property (e.g. what is status of PT in Guyana, a U.S/[.] or Guyana corporation?), as well as any other areas in which you believed local counsel could be helpful.
3. Per Ref B, we understand that amount of property at Jonestown as reported by media may be grossly exaggerated. One immediate concern should be to assure that US consular officers prepare a full accounting of all moveable property found in the area to avoid any potential claims by relatives, etc. that property was diverted by GOG [Government of Guyana] or individuals.
4. You should also promptly advise GOG of Dept’s statutory responsibility to take custody of all substantial assets of deceased Americans, and request that they turn over to you immediately all property identifiable as such (obviously items which GOG may require as evidence in legal proceedings against Peoples Temple members should be left in GOG custody pending completion of proceedings). This should assist in determining extent of local legal issues involved; (if GOG prepared to turn over bulk of property found
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PAGE 03 STATE 296909
problem would become one of determining distribution under US law. If GOG should assert custody on grounds of property is not that of individuals, Guyana law as well as US will become relevant).
5. With respect to retaining legal counsel, you should be aware that attorneys’s [attorneys] commonly bill for advice on estimate matters on basis of a percentage of the estate value. We would not wish any misunderstanding to develop in this respect, and you should therefore advise local counsel that he would be retained on fixed fee basis. We would be prepared to initially seek up to dols [dollars] 1000 for this purpose, and would consider seeking additional funding if more extensive services subsequently appeared to be required.
Christopher [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]