[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE293748_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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ORIGIN ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 CCO-00 SS-15 SP-02 L-03 H-01 NSCE-00 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 INRE-00 DODE-00 SCS-06 SY-05 AID-05 PA-01 ICAE-00 TRSE-00 MCT-02 SVC-00 /066 R
DRAFTED BY ARA:JBUSHNELL
APPROVED BY ARA – VPVAKY
S/S-O:JETHYDEN
——————093207 191707Z /41
Z 191659Z NOV 78 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN FLASH
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, OREP,GY
SUBJECT: OFFER OF ASSISTANCE TO GOG
YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT PRIME MINISTER OR OTHER APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL TO INFORM HIM THAT USG IS PREPARED PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE CONSIDERED NECESSARY AND USEFUL BY GOG IN CONTROLLING SITUATION IN THE PEOPLES TEMPLE AREA AND IN PREVENTING FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE. OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD REQUIRE NUMBER OF HOURS TO DEPLOY HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT. AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT KNOW IF SPECIAL REACTION TEAMS WOULD BE DESIRABLE BUT SHOULD GOG WISH SUCH ASSISTANCE IT COULD BE PROVIDED. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE SOONER. WE OF COURSE APPRECIATE THE INTENSE EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERWAY BY GOG AND DO NOT WISH IMPLY THEY NOT HANDLING SITUATION AS WELL AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, GIVEN LARGE NUMBERS AMCITS
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INVOLVED WE CAN DO NO LESS THAN OFFER ANY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE GOG MIGHT WISH.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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