[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04229_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
GEORGE 04229 121738Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SCS-06 CPR-02 CA-01 SSO-00 /025 W
——————108894 121744Z /42
O 121720Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 8423
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4229
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CDES, GY (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: REQUEST FOR LIMITED WAIVER OF IMMUNITY
REF: ELLICE/CLARKE TELECON 12/12/78 0900 EST
1. DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE EMBASSY WITH LIMITED WAIVER OF IMMUNITY SO THAT CONSULAR OFFICER DENNIS REECE CAN ATTEND AND TESTIFY AT THE GUYANESE CORONER’S INQUEST SCHEDULED TO BE HELD TOMMORROW [TOMORROW] (12/13/78) AT MATTHEW’S RIDGE.
2. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTION PLANS TO USE THE SERIES OF TELEGRAMS PROVIDING THE NAMES, DATES, AND PLACES OF BIRTH OF THE IDENTIFIED DEAD AS EVIDENCE IN THE CORONER’S INQUEST. HE HAS REQUESTED THAT WHICHEVER CONSULAR OFFICER ATTENDS (TO WITNESS THE PROCEEDINGS) BE AUTHORIZED TO TESTIFY IF NECESSARY AS TO THE OFFICIAL SOURCES ON WHICH THE IDENTITITES IN THE TELEGRAMS IN QUESTION ARE BASED, (E.G., FINGERPRINTS, X-RAYS, DENTAL CHARTS).
3. REF TELECON RELAYED ABOVE TO REED CLARKE, GUYANA WORKING GROUP. PLEASE REPLY TELEGRAPHICALLY BEFORE OPENING OF BUSINESS DEC. 13 GRANTING CONOFF LIMITED WAIVER OF IMMUNITY TO TESTIFY AND PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS TO THE PREPARATION OF THE “DOVER TELEGRAMS”.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
UNCLASSIFIED
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