[Editor’s note: In addition to Rep. Phillip Burton (noted below), the State Department sent a similar letter to Leo Ryan.]
December 9, 1977
Dear Mr. Duncan:
The Secretary has asked me to reply to your letter of November 23 concerning the case of John Victor Stoen, who is presently in the custody of a religious group known as the People’s Temple, in Guyana. Congressman Phillip Burton has also expressed interest in this case and has received a similar reply.
As you mentioned in your letter, John Stoen’s mother has engaged attorneys Margaret Ryan and Jeffrey Haas to counsel her regarding court proceedings in Guyana to regain custody of her son. It is noted that Mrs. Stoen previously signed over custody of John to the religious group. Both Mr. Haas and Ms. Ryan have visited the Department of State to express their concern and to pose questions concerning the handling of a child custody court hearing in Guyana. While Mr. Haas was in Guyana for some preliminary court proceedings, he was in close touch with officers at the American Embassy there, who offered him every possible assistance, including personal representation to the Charge d’ Affaires to high Guyanese government officials when Mr. Haas believed that political pressures were being brought to bear in the judicial system. Both Mr. Haas and Ms. Ryan agree that the American Embassy offered Mr. Haas all possible assistance during his visit to Guyana. Mrs. Stoen has also retained an attorney in Guyana to represent her. We are informed that the attorney was recommended by the Solicitor General of Guyana and that he enjoys a very good reputation in Guyana.
During Ms. Ryan’s recent visit to the Department she talked at length about Mr. Haas’s and her belief that the pending judicial proceedings were going to be unfair in some manner, unduly prejudicing the judge against their client. She was unable to be specific and was counseled to keep in close touch with the Embassy for any required assistance during the hearings.
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Neither the Department or the Embassy can protest transgressions of normal court procedures which have not yet happened.
We have attempted to assure Mr. Haas and Ms. Ryan that in our experience Guyana is a country with a strong rule of law and that the judicial system there heretofore has not been unduly influenced by outside political interference. Should Mr. Haas, Ms. Ryan or the Guyanese representative believed that the hearing which is afforded them on behalf of Mrs. Stoen is not conducted in accordance with the local law, they should promptly bring any irregularities to the attention of the American Embassy.
During a visit to the Department Ms. Ryan had some doubt about her ability to satisfy a foreign judge about Mrs. Stone’s character or ability to provide a proper environment for her child. Ms. Ryan was provided information about international social service agencies which may be of assistance to her in that matter.
With respect to the basic question regarding custody, such orders issued by individual states in the United States have no validity outside the jurisdiction of the court which issues them. The question of John Victor Stone’s custody can only be decided at this time by a competent court having jurisdiction in his present place of residence, Guyana. Although the California court orders may be useful in the case in Guyana, the family must not expect that the hearing in Guyana is to enforce the California court order. The hearing in Guyana is to determine the custody of John Victor Stoen. His family and their attorneys must be prepared to discuss the basic custody matter with the court in Guyana and not expect that court to accept the decisions of a foreign (U. S.) court at face value.
For additional information about child custody cases please telephone Miss Elizabeth Powers of our Office of Special Consular Services on 632-3915.
Sincerely,
/s/ Douglas J. Bennett, Jr.
Douglas J. Bennett, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations