[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 239 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.
[The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE297520_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
CONFIDENTIAL
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]
0 241720Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL STATE 297520
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO), GY
SUBJECT: SEARCH AND RESCUE
DEPARTMENT SUGGESTS EMBASSY PROPOSE THAT GUYANESE OFFICIALS DEAL DIRECTLY WITH INDIGENOUS INDIANS IN JONESTOWN AREA AND OFFER APPROPRIATE REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE RECOVERY OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF PEOPLES TEMPLE COLONY OR FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF LOST MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED GOG [GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA] ACTUALLY PAY REWARDS AND THEN REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM USG [U.S. GOVERNMENT] FOR THESE UNIQUE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE OPERATIONS. SPECIFIC FUNDING INSTRUCTIONS WILL FOLLOWD [FOLLOW] LATER.
CHRISTOPHER [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
CONFIDENTIAL