220239Z NOV 78
FM WASHINGTON FIELD (89-570) (P)
TO DIRECTOR FBI (89-4286) IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS
RYMUR
Refernece [Reference] Bureau telephone call to Washinton [Washington] field November 22, 1978.
On November 22, 1978, Washington Field FBI State Department Liaison Representative contacted Susan Haufe, Chief, Correspondence and Management, Office of Public Affairs, United States Department of State (USDS), Washington, D. C. (WDC), regarding all correspondence received by USDS regarding Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. According to Haufe, there have been approximately 1,200 letters regarding Jones that have been received at the Department since the beginning of 1978, the majority arriving between March and June. Haufe stated that 60 to 70 percent have been in favor of Jones and the Temple
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with 30 percent criticising his cult and methods. However, according to Haufe, her office only retained these letters for a two week period, after which they were forwarded to a storage area in the basement of the Department, held for a three month period and subsequently destroyed. Haufe advised that she has been able to locate only 20 of these letters regarding Jones but in view of Bureau interest in this matter, stated that she would initiate an additional search on the morning of November 24, 1978.
Additionally, Stephen A. Dubrenchuk, Chief, Special Counsular [Consular] Services, USDS, was contacted regarding any correspondence his office may have received. The FBI representative viewed three files with extensive correspondence from the public, relatives of cult members, and congressional referrals. Dubrenchuk stated that Congressman Clement Zablocki, Chairman, Committee on International Relations, has already requested that all USDS cable traffic be submitted to his committee for investigation, and that
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this request would have to take precedence in view of the fact that personnel assigned to his office are already involved in assembling documentation in this area. It was explained to Dobrenchuk that the FBI was investigating the death of Congressman Ryan under the Congressional Assassination Statute and that currently the Bureau was interested in external correspondence although the cable traffic would be helpful to the investigation. The Privacy Act and Third Agency Rule were also discussed at length due to the nature of the correspondence, and it was decided that if the legal divisions of both USDS and the Bureau review the request appropriately, then Dobrenchuk would disseminate the aforementioned data.
Request of the Bureau
In view of the fact that many of the pieces of the correspondence had been directed to representatives of the State Department, in addition to a number of congressional referrals, the Bureau is requested to consult with the legal division to resolve Bureau accessibility
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to these documents.
Lead. Washington field. At Washington, D. C. will maintain contact with USDS regarding captioned matter.
Armed and dangerous, suicidal tendencies.
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