[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04432_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 04432 221838Z
ACTION L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 SCS-06 CA-01 TRSE-00 SS-15 NSC-05 H-02 HA-05 /053 W
——————114224 221928Z /45
P R 221728Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8550
INFO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4432
JUSTICE FOR: JIM HERGIN
DEPARTMENT FOR (TERRY FORTUNE) L
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CASC, GY, (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE BANK ACCOUNTS IN GUYANA
1. THE EMBASSY HAS SENT LETTERS TO ALL GEORGETOWN BANKS INQUIRYING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO THE “PEOPLE’S TEMPLE OR ANY OF THE DECEASED PEOPLE’S TEMPLE MEMBERS”.
2. WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED A REPLY FROM THE MANAGER OF THE GEORGETOWN BRANCH OF BARCLAYS BANK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. TH LETTER IS QUOTED IN FULL:
DEAR SIR,
RE: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE
WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR LETTER OF 13TH DECEMBER, WHILE THE BANK IS ONLY TOO WILLING TO ASSIST YOUR EMBASSY IT WOULD BE IN BREACH OF ITS DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY TO ITS CUSTOMERS TO DIVULGE ANY INFORMATION EXCEPT BY COMPULSION OF AN ORDER OF THE COURT HERE OR BY CONSENT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ABOVE UNITED STATES BODY IN
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IN ITS COPORATE NAME.
AS REGARDS DECEASED MEMBERS IT WOULD BE AS WELL AS TO SEND US A LIST BUT ONE AGAIN THE BANK ONLY REVEALS INFORMATION WHEN REQUESTED BY LAWYERS ACTING FOR THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF A DECEASED FOR ESTATE DUTY PURPOSES.
YOUR FAITHFULLY,
EVADNE THOMPSON (MRS.)
MANAGER
3. THE EMBASSY HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ACCOUNTS DO EXIST AT THIS BANK. DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE CONSUL AND THE BANK IS DESIRED AND, IF SO, TO SUGGEST SPECIFIC WORDING FOR SUCH CORRESPONDENCE. EMBASSY NOTES THAT DEPARTMENT HAD SENT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS RE ACCOUNTS TO PANAMA AND BERN.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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