[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE034403_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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PAGE 01 STATE 034403
ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-14 ISO-00 CA-01 SSO-00 H-02 L-03 /027 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS/FLHENNEKE/EAPOWERS/MRER
APPROVED BY CA/SCS/SADOBRENCHUK
CA/SCS/RLRIVERA
ARA/MGT-GKRIEGER (SUBS)
CA-MTRUITT
ARA/CAR-JGRIFFITH (SUBS)
——————094952 091736Z /23
O 091722Z FEB 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 034403
E.O. 11652: N/A
TA CASC (STOEN, JOHN VICTOR)
SUBJECT: W/W JOHN VICTOR STOEN
REF: STATE A-4386
1. AS POST AWARE, DEPARTMENT RECEIVING NUMEROUS INQUIRIES FROM CONGRESS AND AMERICAN PUBLIC CONCERNING CUSTODY CASE OF JOHN VICTOR STOEN. MOST OF THE INQUIRIES ARE EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR STOENS OR PEOPLE’S TEMPLE WITHOUT REAL INTEREST IN ACTUAL PROCEEDINGS. HOWEVER, SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES IN PARTICULAR INVOLVE THE ACTUAL COURT PROCEEDINGS, I.E., WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT AND ARE THE COURTS ACTING IMPARTIALLY AND SPEEDILY TOWARD RESOLUTION.
2. REFAIR OUTLINES CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH PRINCIPAL OFFICER MAY REQUEST AUTHORITY TO RETAIN LOCAL COUNSEL TO ADVISE CONSULAR OFFICER IN WAYS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES
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PAGE 02 STATE 034403
(2 FAM 283). DEPARTMENT SHOULD FIND DETAILED ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED GUYANESE ATTORNEY MOST USEFUL IN DEALING WITH DOMESTIC INTEREST IN STOEN CASE. SUCH ADVICE WOULD ALSO PROVE INVALUABLE SHOULD THERE BE OTHER CUSTODY CASES IN THE FUTURE.
3. IF POST BELIEVES 2 FAM 283 SHOULD BE USED TO RETAIN INDEPENDENT LOCAL COUNSEL, PLEASE PROVIDE PERTINENT INFORMATION AS SET OUT IN 2 FAM 283.4 ASAP.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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