[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1977GEORGE02334_c.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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ACTION ARA-14
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 CA-01 SCS-03 L-03 H-01 PRS-01 /024 W
——————112592 232208Z /66
P 231700Z SEP 77
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5363
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DEPT. PASS ARA/CAR – TUMMINIA AND
CA FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY WATSON
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, PINT, GY
SUBJECT: W/W CHILD CUSTODY CASE: JOHN V. STOEN AND RELATED MATTERS
REF: GEORGETOWN 2316
1. AT COURT HEARING THIS MORNING, SEPTEMBER 23, JONES’ LOCAL ATTORNEY, SIR LIONEL LUCKHOO, MADE A MOTION TO ADD ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE ORGANIZATION TO THE CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS. LUCKHOO INDICATED THAT MISS JOYCE TUCHETTE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS CASE ON THE GROUNDS THAT SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN CUSTODY OF THE CHILD BY HIS MOTHER, GRACE STOEN. HAAS’ LOCAL ATTORNEY ARGUED THAT BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN TO ADDING NEW MEMBERS, JIM JONES MUST BRING THE CHILD INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE COURT AS REQUIRED BY THE SUMMONS ISSUED BY THE COURT ON SEPTEMBER 10. PRESIDING JUSTICE HAS WITHHELD HIS DECISION PENDING ADDITIONAL ARGUMENTS TO BE HEARD AT NEXT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. CONSUL PLANS TO ATTEND.
2. HAAS’ LOCAL ATTORNEY INFORMED CONSUL HE WILL BE CONSULTING WITH HAAS ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 TO BRING
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HIM UP TO DATE IN THE CASE.
3. ONE PROCEDURAL NOTE FOR DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION. TO DATE ALL HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD IN JUDGE’S CHAMBERS WITH NO OUTSIDERS PERMITTED. CONSUL WAS PERMITTED TO ENTER JUDGE’S CHAMBERS FOR SHORT PERIOD ON SEPTEMBER 10, BUT NOT TODAY. CONSUL HAS NOT MADE AN ISSUE OF THIS SINCE BOTH PARTIES ARE WELL REPRESENTED AND THE INCARCERATION OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IS NOT AT STAKE. HOWEVER, HE BELIEVES HIS PRESENCE OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER INDICATES USG INTEREST WHERE ALL DISPUTANTS ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS. CONSUL HAS BEEN ASSURED BY APPROPRIATE GOG JUDICIAL REPRESENTATIVES THAT THIS PROCEDURE IS NORMAL IN CHILD CUSTODY CASES.
4. PEOPLE’S TEMPLE HAS ADDED ANOTHER STRANGE NOTE. CONSUL WAS INFORMED BY HIGH LEVEL MFA OFFICIAL THAT PEOPLE’S TEMPLE REPRESENTATIVES IN GEORGETOWN WERE SPREADING WORD THAT “CIA IS ATTEMPTING TO ASSISINATE BISHOP JONES.” AS EVIDENCE OF THIS PLOT PEOPLE’S TEMPLE IN JONESTOWN HAVE COMPLAINED TO POLICE THAT JONES WAS SHOT AT WITHIN PAST TWO WEEKS. OFFICIAL THOUGHT THIS ALLEGATION WAS ABSOLUTE NONSENSE AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CREDIBILITY IN GUYANA FOR PEOPLE’S TEMPLE.
BLACKEN [Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Blacken]
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