[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE022642_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 STATE 022642
ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-10 ISO-00 H-01 HA-05 L-03 /026 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS/FLHENNEKE/CEH
APPROVED BY CA/SCS/SADOBRENCHUK
SCS/EAPOWERS
——————065427 272301Z /75
O 272246Z JAN 78 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 022642
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: CASC, (STOEN, JOHN VICTOR)
SUBJECT: W/W JOHN VICTOR STOEN
1. DEPT OFFICERS MET JAN 27 WITH TIMOTHY STOEN AND STEVE KATSARIS CONCERNING STOEN CUSTODY CASE AND PEOPLE’S TEMPLE IN GENERAL. MR. STOEN MADE SPECIFIC REQUEST OF DEPT: THAT USG OBTAIN FROM GOG SPECIFIC GUARANTEE THAT ANY COURT DECISION AWARDING CUSTODY OF JOHN STOEN TO MR. AND MRS. STOEN WOULD BE SPEDILY ENFORCED WITH ALL DUE DILIGENCE. STOEN BELIEVES JONES WILL ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT ANY ADVERSE DECISION. DEPT BELIEVES THIS NOT UNREASONABLE METHOD TO EXPRESS USG CONCERN AND INTEREST THAT GUYANESE LEGAL SYSTEM BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE TO ULTIMATE CONCLUSION WITHOUT POLITICAL INTERFERENCE. DEPT. REQUESTS EMBASSY’S ADVICE AND THOUGHTS CONCERNING SUBSTANCE OF THIS REQUEST AND MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS OF ACQUIRING SUCH GUARANTEE.
CHRISTOPHER [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
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