[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 80 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/1978STATE296852_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 296852
ORIGIN ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 L-03 SSO-00 SCS-06 CA-01 SS-15 DODE-00 FBIE-00 JUSE-00 SY-05 H-01 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 INRE-00 /057 R
DRAFTED BY ARA:WDCALDERHEAD
APPROVED BY ARA:JBUSHNELL
ARA:RZIMMERMANN
S/S-O:RCASTRODALE
L:HHANSELL
——————043502 232108Z /64
O 231941Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: AFSP, GY
SUBJECT: EMBASSY LEGAL SERVICES – PEOPLES’ TEMPLE
REFERENCE: BURKE/BUSHNELL TELECON OF NOV. 22
Embassy authorized to engage immediately legal counsel essential to provide statutory protective services to American citizens involved in Peoples’ Temple crisis. Before signing formal contract, request text describing scope of services and establishing fees be passed to department for clearance. Charge eventual costs to regular program funds. Keep track of expenditures for inclusion next allotment adjustment request for funds. You should pursue legal procedures to assure property,
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PAGE 02 STATE 296852
both moveables and immoveables is handled in accordance with laws of Guyana and, as appropriate, US laws and regulations. We are aware that elements of property may be involved in investigations now going on. While we would, of course, be prepared to transport valuables to us by AF lifts now available, such transport should be done only with full agreement of GOG [Government of Guyana] official. Legal/counsel to be retained as indicated above can advise you.
Deputy secretary and legal adviser have reviewed substance of this message and it supersedes any prior instructions. Additional technical guidance from L on general issues involved will be sent as soon as possible.
From [Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John] Bushnell: — given urgency situation proceed to acquire legal services soonest with formal arrangements to follow as indicated above.
Christopher [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
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