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[Listing of agencies receiving informational copy on PDF]
R 1915[illegible number] SEP 77
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5329
Limited official news Georgetown 2269
Dept. Pass ARA/CAR – Tumminia and CA for assistant secretary
E. O. 11652: N/A
TAG: [illegible word], CASC (STOEN, JOHN VICTOR)
SUBJECT: W/W: JOHN VICTOR STOEN
REF: GEORGETOWN 2296
1. Case has now entered the political arena. Court orders issued by order of Supreme Court Judge on Sept. 16 as reported in para. 3 reftel have not been signed. US attorney Haas informed charge Sept. 12 that orders have not been signed by court officials on quote instructions from [illegible word] government unquote. Charge learned from Minister of Foreign Affairs same day that GOG decided to allow Jim Jones to appear in court voluntarily rather than by summons.
2. However, after several days have lapsed with no action Haas met with charge on Sept. 18 to request Embassy assistance. During this meeting Haas indicated he has been pressured by the US press to publicize details of case, but has not acquiesced. However, if due process of law were not followed, he would take the issue to the press.
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3. Charge then took up matter with the Foreign Minister and later the Prime Minister on September 16 and is to determine reason for continued delay in case. Charge expressed concern to both ministers over apparent halting of the process. Charge maintained that by intervening in this case GOG was setting dangerous precedent in view of the probability of similar future cases.
4. Embassy has sent the MFA[Minister of Foreign Affairs] a note on September 17 regarding case and expressing concern over intervention of GOG in impending case. Embassy stated in note that while we were not taking sides in this dispute, we were concerned over the apparent intrusion of the GOG in a case that was solely a matter for the courts to decide. The note reminded the MFA that all the disputants in this case are American citizens and that the case involved the order by competent US judicial authority awarded custody of John Stoen to his mother. Note concluded by requesting MFA to make appropriate representations to permit court here to resolve matter quickly and fairly.
5. Haas has drafted letter which he has said he will send to Foreign Minister requesting his assistance in concluding matter. In the letter, Haas refers to Foreign Minister’s initial statements to Haas that he wanted case expeditiously concluded with child being returned to mother.
6. Charge hopes his representations to highest level in GOG will result in case being speedily concluded.
Blacken [Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Blacken]
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