[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04200_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
GEORGE 04200 130506Z
ACTION SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 TRSE-00 HEW-06 H-02 CA-01 /031 W
——————115419 130509Z /13
R 111250Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8402
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4200
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CFED, GY (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: FEDERAL BENEFIT CHECKS
REF: A) STATE 307153 B) GEORGETOWN 4121
1. THE EMBASSY HAS RECOVERED 748 U.S. TREASURY CHECKS AT JONESTOWN. SOME OF THESE CHECKS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE EMBASSY BY THE GUYANESE POLICE, SOME WERE RECOVERED ON THE SITE BY CONSULAR OFFICERS, AND A SMALL NUMBER WERE FOUND IN OTHER PERSONAL EFFECTS WHILE THEY WERE BEING EXAMINED.
2. IT IS LIKELY THAT A FEW MORE CHECKS WILL BE FOUND AS WE CONTINUE TO FIND AND TAKE POSSESSION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE 748 CHECKS NOW IN OUR POSSESSION TOTAL US$159,527.55. REF. A. PARAGRAPH 3 REFERS TO 7 FAM 251.7. THIS SECTION OF THE MANUAL, AS THE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE, REFERS TO THE DISPOSITION OF CHECKS THAT UPON INITIAL RECEIPT BY THE EMBASSY ARE NOT DELIVERABLE. THIS IS NOT, OF COURSE, THE CASE OF THE CHECKS IN QUESTION, WHICH WERE DELIVERED TO THE BENEFICIARIES SOME TIME IN THE PAST.
3. CONSULAR OFFICER, MINDFUL OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS PROVISIONALAL CONSERVATOR OF THE ESTATES OF THESE AMERICANS WHO ARE PRESUMED TO BE DECEASED, HESITATES TO RETURN CHECKS TO WASHINGTON UNITL DEPARTMENT RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP.
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PAGE 02 GEORGE 04200 130506Z
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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