[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04353_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01
GEORGE 04353 191849Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SCS-06 CA-01 L-03 H-02 SS-15 NSC-05 INR-10 PA-02 /060 W
——————056186 192049Z /45
P 191746Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8498
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4353
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CASC, GY, (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: CONSULAR OFFICER’S VISIT TO JONESTOWN
REF: STATE 316509
1. CONSULAR OFFICER WHO VISITED JONESTOWN NOVEMBER 7 PLANNED TO SUBMIT TELEGRAPHIC REPORT TO DEPARTMENT AS SOON AS THE CODEL LEFT TOWN. SINCE NOTHING OF ANY (THEN) PERCEIVED SIGNIFICANCE TRANSPIRED DURING VISIT NO URGENCY WAS ATTACHED TO THE PREPARATION OF SUCH A TELEGRAM. PLEASE SEE GEORGETOWN 3669 WHICH REFERS TO THE FORTHCOMING PREPARATION OF SUCH A TELEGRAPHIC REPORT.
2. THEIR VERY FIRST MORNING IN TOWN, CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND BOTH OF HIS STAFFERS WERE INVITED TO THE AMBASSADOR’S OFFICE WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED BY AMBASSADOR, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, CONSUL ELLICE, AND VICE CONSUL REECE. REECE HAD ACCOMPANIED THE CONSUL ON HIS NOVEMBER 7 VISIT TO JONESTOWN. AT THIS MEETING SLIDES WERE SHOWN THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE DCM DURING HIS VISIT TO JONESTOWN MAY 10, 1978. THE CONGRESSMAN AND HIS ASSISTANTS WERE ADVISED THAT CONSUL ELLICE AND VICE CONSUL REECE HAD JUST VISITED JONESTOWN AND THAT THEY STOOD READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE CONGRESSMAN OR HIS STAFFERS MIGHT WISH TO POSE. NO SUCH QUESTIONS WERE FORTHCOMING.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 GEORGE 04353 191849Z
3. REGARDING THE STATE OF HEALTH OF THE REVEREND JIM JONES, THE PEOPLES TEMPLE REPRESENTATIVES IN GEORGETOWN IN DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF A VISIT BY CODEL RYAN HAD GIVEN THE POOR STATE OF JONES’ HEALTH BECAUSE OF A RECENT “HEART ATTACK” AS ONE REASON THEY CONSIDERED THE TIMING INOPPORTUNE. THIS WAS REFERRED TO DURING CONVERSATIONS THE AMBASSADOR AND DCM HAD WITH CONGRESSMAN RYAN ON NOVEMBER 15. JONES’ PERSONAL COMPLAINTS OF HIGH FEVER AND ILL HEALTH WERE ALSO MENTIONED TO RYAN.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
UNCLASSIFIED
NNN