[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE324210_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 324210
ORIGIN L-03
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 JUSE-00 CA-01 SCS-06 /022 R
DRAFTED BY L/ARA:T.FORTUNE:RTG
APPROVED BY L:L.MARKS
JUSTICE – J. HERGEN (PHONE)
ARA – BUSHNELL
L/CA – HENDERSON
——————017477 262027Z /43
O 261957Z DEC 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 324210
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CASC, GY, PEOPLES TEMPLE
SUBJECT: PROTECTION OF U.S. INTERESTS IN PEOPLES TEMPLE ASSETS IN GUYANA.
REF: (A) GEORGETOWN 4399; (B) STATE 319402; (C) GEORGETOWN 4316
1. REFTEL A CORRECTLY NOTES THAT DEPARTMENT IN REFTEL B DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS STATUS OF PEOPLES TEMPLE PROPERTY IN GEORGETOWN. NOTE DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR INTENTIALLY LEFT UNDEFINED DISTINCTION BETWEEN USG CONSULAR RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF USG AS CLAIMANT OF P.T. ASSETS. NEVERTHELESS, THIS DISTINCTION SHOULD BE OBSERVED IN DISCHARGE OF EMBASSY’S CONSULAR RESPONSIBILITIES.
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2. AS EMBASSY KNOWS, RESIDENCE IN LUMALA GARDENS IS OWNED BY CORPORATION. EMBASSY SHOULD SEEK TO DETERMINE REGISTRY OF “CUDJOE” AND OF VEHICLES OWNED BY P.T. IF (AS CAN BE EXPECTED) THESE ARE REGISTERED TO THE CORPORATE ENTITY, THEN RESIDENCE, VESSEL AND VEHICLES DO NOT FALL WITHIN CONSULAR RESPONSIBILITY. RESIDENCE MAY CON-AIN PERSONAL PROPERTY OF DECEASED U.S. CITIZENS. CONSULAR OFFICERS SHOULD SEEK ACCESS TO RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSE OF TAKING POSSESSION OF SUCH PROPERTY.
3. REGARDING CRATES CONSIGNED TO P.T., STATUS OF PROPERTY IN THE CRATES CANNOT BE FINALLY DETERMINED UN;IL INVEN-ORY PROPOSED IN REFTEL IS COMPLETED. IT IS PROBABLE THAT CRATES CONTAIN LITTLE, IF ANY, PROPERTY OF INDIVIDUAL DECEDENTS. STEPS TAKEN BY EMBASSY TO DATE, INCLUDING POSTING OF SEALS AND PRIOR NOTES -O GOG, ARE SUFFICIENT IN OUR VIEW TO DISCHARGE CONSULAR RESPONSIBILITIES PENDING FINAL DETERMINATION OF TYPE OF PROPERTY IN CRATES.
4. DEPARTMENT BELIEVES PRESENCE OF MR. FORTUNE IN GEORGETOWN WOULD BE MOST USEFUL IN CONNECTION WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH GOG REGARDING PROCEDURE WHICH GOG INTENDS TO FOLLOW IN CONSERVING, ACCOUNTING FOR, AND DISPOSING OF P.T. PROPERTY, AND, IN PARTICULAR QUESTION OF POSSIBLE U.S. CLAIM AGAINST THESE ASSETS. HIS VISIT, THEREFORE, SHOULD FOLLOW EMBASSY’S RECEIPT OF SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE TO NOTE DELIVERED DECEMBER 20.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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