[Editor’s note: The State Department FOIA release of 1981 withheld the file name from this cable. It is denoted in red type.]
0 041915Z DEC 78
FM UNITED STATES SERVICE HQS (ID-FIB & ACB)
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
INFO DEPT OF STATE
DIR FBI
BT
UNCLAS CITE USSS 1125
FILE: CO-2-78978
SUBJECT: ASSASSINATION THREAT AGAINST PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
REFERENCE IS MADE TO USSS #1061 DATED 11/24/78.
THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE CONTINUES TO CONDUCT AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, INSIDE THE UNITED STATES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF DANGER THAT THIS GROUP MAY PRESENT TO PROTECTEES OF THIS SERVICE. THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED IN CLOSE CONJUNCTION WITH THE FBI INVESTIGATION OF THIS GROUP.
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AS THIS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY APPARENT THAT SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLES TEMPLE MEMBERS WHO SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED BY THE SECRET SERVICE EITHER WILL NOT BE RELEASED BY THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR DO NOT WISH TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES. THESE MEMBERS INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AND THOSE WHO MAN [MAY] IN THE FUTURE BE FORMALLY CHARGED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA (GOG).
IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT THE EMBASSY IN GEORGETOWN MADE CONTACT WITH THE GOG AND REQUEST THAT THE USSS BE ALLOWED TO INTERVIEW THOSE PEOPLE TEMPLE MEMBERS WHO WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE, INCLUDING THOSE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN GUYANA. IF DESIRABLE, THESE INTERVIEWS COULD BE CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY FBI INTERVIEWS THAT MAY BE ALLOWED. IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT TO THE GOG THAT THE USSS INTEREST IN THESE PERSONS LIES IN A VERY NARROW VEIN; [3 LINES DELETED]. THIS SERVICE IN NO WAY WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN OR HAMPER THE INVESTIGATION OF ANY CRIMES THAT
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MAY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THESE PERSONS IN GUYANA.
DUE TO THE POTENTIAL GRAVITY OF THE USSS INVESTIGATION AND NECESSITY OF THESE INTERVIEWS TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL THREAT, IT IS REQUESTED THAT USSS BE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT THE ABOVE INTERVIEWS IN THE REASONABLY NEAR FUTURE.
EOT