[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE293781_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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PAGE 01
STATE 293781
ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 MED-05 SSO-00 CA-01 CCO-00 SVC-00 /028 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS:SJTUCKER:BB
APPROVED BY CA/SCS:JGRIFFITHS
S/S-O:TREYNDERS
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION
MED – DR. KORCAK
——————093739 192230Z /62
O 192218Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 293781
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: GY
SUBJECT: AMCITS (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
IF RUMOR RE MASS SUICIDE CORRECT, POISON MOST LIKELY USED IS DECON. THIS INFO RECEIVED FROM PERSONS PREVIOUSLY AFFILIATED WITH PEOPLES TEMPLE GROUP. ACCORDING TO NATIONAL POISON CONTROL CENTER, WASHINGTON, D. C., DECON NOT MANUFACTURED IN LIQUID FORM. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TWO TYPES 1) ANTI-COAGULANT WHICH IS USUALLY NOT LETHAL IN SINGLE DOSE, 2) ARSENICAL WHICH IS HIGHLY TOXIC AND CAN BE LETHAL IN SINGLE DOSE IF VICTIM DOES NOT RECEIVE IMMEDIATE TREATMENT. SYMPTOMS OF ARSENICAL ARE VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.
MRS. LANE, WIFE OF MARK LANE RECEIVED ANONYMOUS PHONE CALL STATING THAT PT GROUP ALSO HAS LARGE AMOUNT POTASSIUM CYANIDE AND SLEEPING PILLS.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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