[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03954_d.html.]
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GEORGE 03954 262315Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SS-15 PM-05 NSCE-00 SP-02 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 INRE-00 DODE-00 SCS-06 CA-01 L-03 H-01 SSO-00 /059 W
——————090796 262320Z /12
O 262215Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8224
C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 3954
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: CASC OREP (RYAN) GY
SUBJECT: MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO GOG
REF: A) GEORGETOWN 3940 B) GEORGETOWN 3894
1. WE HAVE BEEN THINKING OVER OUR REQUEST FOR THE TWO HELICOPTERS WHICH WE DESCRIBED AS QUOTE MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO GOG UNQUOTE. IT WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE TO CHARACTERIZE OUR REQUEST AS QUOTE CONTINUING MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO EMBASSY GEORGETOWN UNQUOTE.
2. IT IS THE EMBASSY’S PLAN TO CONTROL THE SCHEDULING OF THE HELICOPTERS IN ORDER TO UTILIZE THEM ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF “PROTECTING” THE ASSESTS LOCATED AT JONESTOWN SUCH AS ASPECTS AS TRANSPORT OF LEGAL, SECURITY, INVESTIGAGATIVE AND CONSULAR PERSONNELAN TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO GEORGETOWN FOR SAFEKEEPING, ETC.
3. SINCE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION TO BE SUPPORTED IS ESSENTIALLY CONSULAR AND SINCE SATISFACTORY, ALTERNATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS SEEM NOT TO BE FEASIBLE, IT WOULD APPEAR LOGICAL TO LOOK TO THE EMERGENCIES IN THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE APPROPRIATION TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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