[Editor’s note: This is a State Department cable that was included in the FBI’s 2009 RYMUR release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act. It was not included in the State Department’s own release, but we have included identifying information for it using the agency’s designations.
[The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978BRIDGE03455_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01
BRIDGE 03455 270121Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 FBIE-00 JUSE-00 L-03 SY-05 DODE-00 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 SCS-06 CA-01 SSO-00 INRE-00 /041 W
——————091112 270124Z /73
O P 270022Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN NIACT IMMEDIATE
INFO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6800
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 3455
E.O. 11652: GDS
A
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO), TD, BB
SUBJ: PEOPLES’ TEMPLE MOVEMENT
REF: A. PORT OF SPAIN 3396 B. PORT OF SPAIN 3397
1. Government of Barbados agrees to visit as proposed, however, agents will have to surrender their weapons on arrival to customs. Weapons will be returned on their departure.
2. When advised of presence of PT members on board vessel calling at Barbados, minister of external affairs who is also attorney general decided both men would be given treatment as undesirable aliens and not admitted. This is his first thinking and position may change by tomorrow but for planning, [Claudio] Gonzalez and [Angelo F.] Class [names withheld by FBI] should exprect [expect] to interview one or both PT members aboard vessel provided captain does not object.
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3. As of 1900 local, Albatross III had not been heard from. Vessels arriving after 1800 may not come alogside [alongside] in small vessel berth in careenage but must moor in offhore [offshore] anchorage. Customs and Immigration are alert to vessel’s expected arrival and consular officer will attempt to board at earliest opportunity November 27 to determine whether interviews can take place.
4. Request agents’ flight ETA Barbados in order that we can meet and assist.
Ortiz [Francis Vincent Ortiz, Jr., Ambassador to Barbados]
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