[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE306446_d.html.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
STATE 306446
ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 L-03 CA-01 H-02 SSO-00 DODE-00 NSCE-00 /028 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS: JO’KANE
APPROVED BY CA/SCS: AGISE
L/CA:RDALTON
ARA:BUSHNELL (INFO)
S/S-O:SVALERGA
——————004459 040248Z /15
O 040238Z DEC 78 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 306446
E.O. 116525: N/A
TAGS: CDES
SUBJECT: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE
1. DEPARTMENT URGENTLY REPEAT URGENTLY REQUESTS, THAT THE EMBASSY OBTAIN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA WHICH STATES: “THE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE JONESTOWN INCIDENT WERE LAWFULLY REMOVED FROM THE JURISDICTION OF GUYANA BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE” OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.
2. THE DELAWARE STATE AUTHORITIES REQUIRE SUCH A STATEMENT IN ORDER TO BEGIN RELEASE OF BODIES TO NOK. SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE. NOTIFICATION BY IMMEDIATE NIACT REQUESTED PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF OFFICIAL NOTE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF BODIES.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
UNCLASSIFIED
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