[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 399 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/1978STATE299133_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01
STATE 299133
ORIGIN L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 SCS-06 CA-01 SSO-00 H-01 SS-15 JUSE-00 FBIE-00 /038 R
DRAFTED BY L/ARA:MKOZAK:MJB
APPROVED BY ARA-RBRUCE
S/S-O:RCASTRODALE
——————086580 260432Z /12
O 260355Z NOV 78 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 299133
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO), GY, AFSP
SUBJECT: ENGAGEMENT OF LOCAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO ASSIST USG TO DISCHARGE RESPONSIBILITIES IN CONNECTION WITH JONESTOWN DISASTER AND ESTATES OF DECEASED AMERICANS
REF: GEORGETOWN 3938 AND PREVIOUS
1. BEFORE PROCEEDING TO RETAIN LLOYD LUCKHOO, WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER FURTHER THE IMPLICATIONS OF HIS FIRM’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE STOEN CASE AND POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE LAYTON DEFENSE.
2. MEANWHILE, WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVISING US WHETHER LUCKHOO REPRESENTS THE ONLY FEASIBLE OPTION. IS HE THE ONLY PERSON WHO, IN YOUR JUDGMENT, IS PROPERLY QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE USG?
3. APPRECIATE YOUR JUDGMENT SOONEST SO THAT WE CAN MAKE EARLY DECISION ON THIS MATTER.
CHRISTOPHER [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
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