Serial 183

United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 11/21/78
To: Mr. Moore
From: J. O. Ingram

Subject: RYMUR

At 2:25 pm, 11/21/78, I was advised that the military had just contacted the Rymur Command Post and they had received orders to ask the FBI team that was en route to Guyana to leave the plane. This was on orders of the Ambassador to Guyana, John Burke. The military could not explain further stating this was on the orders from the State Department.

I immediately placed a call to Deputy Assistant Secretary [John] Bushnell and was advised that he was out of the office and I asked to speak to his Deputy who was in charge of the Guyana situation, Ashley Hewitt. I inquired of Hewitt why the FBI team had been asked to leave the plane and he stated he was attempting to clarify the situation but he understood this was on instructions of the Guyana government. Hewitt advised that he would immediately check into this matter.

At 2:29 pm, [deleted name], FBI HQ State Department Liaison representative who was at the State Department Command Post, advised me that Hewitt had asked him to notify me that the Guyana government had requested that the FBI not send any additional FBI personnel to Guyana. Robert Oglesby, Legat from Caracas, was at that time on site at Guyana, and was in place with the National Police. I asked [deleted name] why the sudden turn of events. He could only state that it was indicated a story allegedly appeared in a southern newspaper that the Guyana government had requested FBI assistance and this prompted action. I asked [deleted name] to clarify this with State but we would certainly adhere to their request as this was strictly a matter of assistance to that country.

JOI:wss (3)