[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE294466_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
STATE 294466
ORIGIN CA-01
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 SCS-06 NSC-05 SS-15 PA-02 A-02 PER-05 H-02 ICA-20 /074 R
DRAFTED BY CA:HHORAN:ST
APPROVED BY CA:BMWATSON
ARA:JBUSHNELL (INFO)
——————104546 211314Z /40
R 210052Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
UNCLAS STATE 294466
FOR AMBASSADOR FROM ASST. SECRETARY WATSON
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CDES, GY
SUBJECT: JONESTOWN SURVIVORS PRAISE DCM DWYER
1. LAST NIGHT, WHEN I MET THE SURVIVORS OF THE JONESTOWN SHOOTING, THEY WERE ALL SPECIFIC–DESPITE SHOCK AND FATIGUE–IN PRAISING RICHARD DWYER. THEY SAID THAT AFTER THE KILLERS WITHDREW, DWYER TOOK COMMAND, ALTHOUGH HIMSELF WOUNDED. THEY THOUGHT THAT NOTHING LESS THAN HIS EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP, SENSE OF PURPOSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT COULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT THEM THROUGH THE MOST TERRIFYING AND LUGUBRIOUS NIGHT OF THEIR LIVES.
2. THERE WILL BE TIME FOR MORE ASSESSMENT LATER. BUT I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE EMBASSY RESPONSE TO THE KILLINGS WAS ONE THAT THE SERVICE AND MR. DWYER SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
UNCLASSIFIED
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