[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04434_d.html.]. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 04434 261330Z
ACTION ARA-10
INFO OCT-01 SS-14 ISO-00 L-01 NSCE-00 INR-05 INRE-00 CIAE-00 NSAE-00 H-01 CA-01 SCS-01 SSO-00 /034 W
——————015634 261337Z /45
O 221900Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8552
C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 4434
LIMDIS FOR ARA JOHN BUSHENLL
E. O. 12065: GDS 12/22/84 (BURKE, JOHN R.) OR-M
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO), GY
SUBJ: EVIDENTIARY MATERIALS.
REF: (A) GEORGETOWN 4402 (B) STATE 319334
1. AMBASSADOR SPOKE AGAIN WITH FORMIN DECEMBER 22 REGARDING U.S. PROPOSAL THAT EVIDENTIARY MATERIAL HELD BY GOG AND CONSULATE BE REMOVED TEMPORARILY TO WASHINGTON FOR PROCESSING AND REPRODUCTION AT FBI HEADQUARTERS AND AFTERWARDS RETURNED TOO GUYANA. FORMIN SAID THAT GOG HAD NOT YET ARRIVED AT A FINAL DECISION ON THIS QUESTION. AMBASSADOR THEN SUGGESTED THAT IN THE INTERESTS OF EXPEDIENCY GOG AGREE TO THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF THE EVIDENTIARY MATERIAL HELD BY CONSULATE SO THAT THIS MATERIAL COULD BE PROCESSED. THEN WHEN GOG HAD TAKEN DECISION RE MATERIALS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE NATIONAL POLICE, THOSE MATERIALS COULD FOLLOW.
2. FOREIGN MINISTER CALLED BACK WITHIN A HALF-HOUR AND AGREED TO THIS “PIECEMEAL PROPOSAL” ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MATERIALS WOULD ALL BE RETURNED TO GUYANA AND
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AVAILABLE TO HIS GOVERNMENT FOR REVIEW BY LAW ENFORCEMNT OFFICERS. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAD ALSO TRIED TO OBTAIN A REPLY REGARDING THE MATERIALS IN THEIR POSSESSION SO THAT THEY TO MIGHT BE SHIPPED, BUT HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ASST. POLICE COMMISSION SKIP ROBERTS AT MATTHEWS RIDGE AT THE CORONER’S INQUEST (WHICH IS DUE TO CONCLUDE TODAY). AMBASSADOR PRESSED HIM FOR AN EARLY DECISION ON THE GOG-CONTROLLED MATERIALS, REMINDING HIM THAT ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS COULD ACCOMPANY IF EVIDENTIARY CHAIN OF CUSTODY HAD TO BE PROTECTED.
3. QUESTION ARISES AS TO HOW THE EVIDENTIARY MATERIALS (ELEVEN BOXES OF TAPE AND DOCUMENTS) SHOULD BE TRANSPORTATED. TECHNICALLY IT IS NOT CLASSIFIED, HOWEVER, OUR EXPERIENCE WITH PANAM BETWEEN GEORGETOWN AND NEW YORK CAUSES US TO FEEL THAT IT COULD BE CONSIDERABLY DELAYED OR EVEN LOST IF SENT AS UNACCOMPANIED AIR FRIGHT. FBI SHOULD USE A COURIER FOR THIS SHIPMENT IF IT IS TO BE PROCESSED AND RETURNED TO GUYANA WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS SUGGESTED IN REFERENCE (B).
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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