[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE256273_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 256273
ORIGIN ARA-10
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SCS-01 H-01 SS-15 NSC-06 AID-01 /035 R
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DRAFTED BY ARA/CAR:R MCCOY:KC
APPROVED BY ARA/CAR:A HEWITT
SCS:R BELT H/ARA:C CUTTER
——————093396 101743Z /64
R 101645Z OCT 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO) GY
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN RYAN’S PROPOSED VISIT TO GUYANA
REF: (A) GEORGETOWN 3125 (B) GEORGETOWN 3174
1. MCCOY AND SCS STAFFER BELT MET WITH RYAN’S LEGAL COUNSEL (MS. JACKIE SPEIERS) ON OCT 3 TO DISCUSS PROPOSED VISIT TO PEOPLE’S TEMPLE IN GUYANA. DRAWING ON POINTS RAISED IN REFTEL A AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE MCCOY DETAILED PROBLEMS RYAN SHOULD CONSIDER IN PLANNING
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TRIP.
2. MCCOY EMPHASIZED DIFFICULTIES IN TRAVELING TO THE TEMPLE’S AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE TEMPLE AGREE TO THE VISIT. IN THIS CONNECTION MCCOY MENTIONED THAT TO DO OTHERWISE COULD LEND CREDENCE TO ATTORNEY MARK LANE’S CHARGES OF A “MASSIVE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE TEMPLE” REPORTED IN REF B. BELT ADDED THAT CONGRESSMAN SHOULD JUSTIFY VISIT TO TEMPLE AS ON SITE INSPECTION OF CONDITIONS AT JONESTOWN IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM CONSTITUENTS.
3. RYAN’S AIDE NOTED SUGGESTIONS MADE BY MCCOY AND BELT AND WELCOMED EMBASSY’S ADVICE ON THIS MATTER. SHE WAS UNSURE WHETHER RYAN WOULD AGREE TO CONTACT TEMPLE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE OF HIS CONCERN ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INTIMIDATION OF TEMPLE MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF VISITORS. NEVERTHELESS, SHE RECOGNIZED THIS MAY BE THE ONLY SOLUTION TO INSURE ENTREE TO THE COMMUNITY.
4. MS. SPEIERS INDICATED THAT TRIP IS STILL BEING CONSIDERED FOR LATE NOVEMBER 78. DEPARTMENT WILL INFORM EMBASSY OF CONGRESSMAN’S PLANS WHEN KNOWN.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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