[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE161993_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 01 STATE 161993
ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 L-03 CA-01 ARA-10 /021 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS/JGUNN/MRER
APPROVED BY CA/SCS/SADOBRENCHUK
CA/L-DRHENDERSON (PHONE)
CA/SCS/RLRIVERA
——————046764 261903Z /50
P 261849Z JUN 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 161993
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CPAS, CASC, GY
SUBJECT: PEOPLES TEMPLE AND THE COMMUNITY AT JONESTOWN
REF: GEORGETOWN 1815
1. DEPARTMENT CAN APPRECIATE THE UNIQUENESS OF THE SITUATION DESCRIBED IN REF TEL AND THE PROBLEMS POST HAS ENCOUNTERED IN ATTEMPTING TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION.
2. WE AGREE WITH POST’S POSITION SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF REF TEL AND CONCUR THAT HOST GOVERNMENT HAS GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTION OVER U.S. CITIZENS AND OTHER ALIENS RESIDING WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES. DEPARTMENT ASSUMES THAT BOTH THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE ARE AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GOG AND THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOG. DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT OF VIEW THAT ANY ACTION INITIATED BY
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PAGE 02 STATE 161993
THE EMBASSY TO APPROACH THE GOG CONCERNING MATTERS RAISED IN REF TEL COULD BE CONSTRUED BY SOME AS U.S. GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE. UNLESS AMCIT [American citizen] MEMBER OR FAMILY REQUESTS ASSISTANCE OR THERE IS EVIDENCE OF LAWLESSNESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF JONESTOWN.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]