LETTER (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 28
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2009
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: November 2, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

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Iq
STAT
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0 2 lyvY 084
Your letter of 13 October 1984 was received on 19 October
1984. We apologize for this delayed acknowledgment.
Your letter presents an appeal of determinations made in
response to your Freedom of Information Act request for
CIA-originated records pertaining to The House of Israel. The
basis of your proffered appeal is inadequacy of the search
conducted for documents responsive to your request. In support
of this view, you mention that you "would expect a CIA search
to turn up articles in the public domain." In addition, you
mention that cables between the State Department and Georgetown
(Guyana) should exist inasmuch as similar cables appear in our
files in connection with the Jonestown tragedy.
In reviewing the request file, I note that your original
6 January 1982 request for "all records referring to or
pertaining to The House of Israel and Rabbi Edward Emanuel
Washington" (aka David Hill), was amended by your letter of
26 February 1982 to a request for "records generated within the
CIA -- i.e. no newsclips -- on The House of Israel." Thus, your
amended request clearly excluded both articles in the public
domain and documents, such as State Department cables, which
originated with other agencies.
I have also reviewed the search conducted for CIA-originated
documents pertaining to The House of Israel. As you know, our
20 October 1982 letter advised you that we were proceeding with
a search of records systems in the Office of Security, Central
Reference and system 49 (the Directorate for Operations). Our
records show that the searches conducted by these components
were thorough and appropriate, and we reaffirm the results of
those searches. We are, however, willing to take another look
at your request to determine if other avenues of search might
be appropriate.
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Accordingly, your appeal has been accepted and arrangements
will be made for its consideration by the CIA Information
Review Committee.
You are reminded, however, that any additional search
conducted pursuant to your appeal will be confined to the scope
of your original request as amended, namely to CIA-originated
documents pertaining to The House of Israel. If you wish to
enlarge the scope to include documents in the public domain or
documents which originated with other government agencies, we
must ask that you submit a new YOIA request.
Our response to your appeal will be made as quickly as
possible, but some delay must be expected. At the present
time, we have a backlog of approximately 130 appeals awaiting
completion. These are treated on a first-received, first-out
basis in order to afford our requesters the most equitable
treatment possible. Your understanding and patience during the
interim will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
John H. Wright
Information and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
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STAT
CIA Information Review
Committee
c/o Larry R. Strawderman
Information and Privacy
Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Strawderman,
October 13, 1984
LOCH/FPP2AL
F8.2-0001
I am writing to appeal the CIA's response to my FOIA
request of January 6, 1982 for agency documents on
the House of Israel. I am appealing on the grounds that
the CIA's search, which turned up a single document,
was inadequate.
The House of Israel is a paramilitary group which oper-
ates in Guyana, South America. At the time of the
Jonestown suicides in November 1978 several newspaper
articles came out about the House of Israel. In subse-
quent years further publicity surrounded the organiza-
tion in connection to internal strife in Guyana. At
the very least, I would expect a CIA search to turn up
articles in the public domain.
In addition, however, the State Department and the Ameri-
can Embassy in Georgetown exchanged cables during
November 1978, and later into 1979. I believe these also
mentioned publicity about the House of Israel. Since other
State Department cables have appeared in CIA files in con-
nection with Jonestown, it is logical to conclude that
these cables are also in the CIA's possession.
If information regarding the House of Israel is filed under
a cryptonym, I expect to be notified of the existence of
the cryptonym.
Therefore, I appeal the CIA's response to my FOIA request
under 5 U.S.C. 552. I appreciate your attention to this
matter.
Sincerely,
jLtom
Rebecca Moore
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0 2 OCT 1984
This is a final reply to your original letter of 6 January
1982 in which you requested, under the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA), records from the files of this Agency concerning
the house of Israel.
We conducted ?3ocument searches within our components and
were able to locate one document, dated 12 September 197g, and
have determined that it remains properly classified and cannot
be declassified or released in sanitized form on the basis of
the (b)(1) and (b)(3) exemptions of the FOIA. We enclose an
explanation of our exemptions.
The official resronsiole for this determination is
Mr. Louis J. Dube, Information Review Officer for the
Directorate of Operations. You have the right to appeal the
above decision by addressing your appeal to the CIA Information
Review Committee, in my care. Should you decide to do this,
please explain the ba3ie of your appeal.
Search fees totaling $241.50 have been waived per our
19 September 1382 letter to you.
P.egar,fing your request on the subject of Congressman Leo Ryans
the request remains in process and should be completed in the near
future.
We apologize for the length of time it has taken us to
conpleto the processing of your request; we have been inundated
by a large number of requests over the past several years.
Under the circumstances, we have done our best to be fair to all
of our requesters. Thus, we established some years ago the
policy of first-received, first-answered. Thank you for your
patience and consideration while we were processing your request.
Sincerely,
/s/ Larry P. Straw3erman
Larry Z. Strawderman
Information and Privacy Coordinator
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STAT
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This is In response to your letter of 31 March 1984.
concerning your two Freedom of Information' Act (POIA) requests
on$
Leo Ryan, P93-0149.
douse of Israel, P82-0001.
We are pleased to advise that both of your requests are
actively being processed. Although we cannot anticipate the
time required to complete your requests, it should be
relatively short as compared to the time you have already
waited.
.
In the meantime, as you requested, we are enclosing a copy
of our 1983 lOIA report to Congress. There will he no copying
charge for this report since the cost falls below the $6 thresh-
old at which we begin to assess fees. We hope this report will
be of assistance to you.
We will be in touch with you on each of your requests when
completed.
Sincerely,
15, yarry R. Stra p! e"="~
Larry R. Strawdersan
Information and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
STAT
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March 31, 1984
STAT
Larry R. Strawderman
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Strawderman,
Thank you for your letter of February 6 regarding
my Freedom of Information Act requests with the
CIA concerning Leo Ryan (F83-0149) and the House
of Israel (F82-0001).
Would you kindly tell me where my request falls in
the current backlog of 3200 inquiries?
Additionally, would you send me a copy of the CIA's
1983 Report to Congress? I would appreciate it.
Sincerely,
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$ FEB 1064
1i3 is in Cc~s+U+..:e to y:i.:r :;acant letter in ?.iitich yo:1
ir..y:ai:tgi js to tt18 status of your t. ream :)L Infor:.l.iti'n
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:,.,rry R. Strawdarman
Infor' tion and ?r i 43cy Cou: %iinitur
STAT
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Mr. Larry R. Strawderman
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Rebecca Moore
January 7, 1984
Dear Mr. Strawderman:
Would you please give me the status of the following Freedom
of Information requests I have made with the CIA?
1) The late Rep. Leo Ryan -- request made February 23, 1983; and
2) The House of Israel -- request made January 6, 1982.
If your agency has not started processing these requests, would
you please tell me when you anticipate it will begin?
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Moore
STAT
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2000Tl Z
;ir'.h cca "onre
i e r . ? ??'ooro:
is in ro3ronne to ?I(, r letter of 22 "ante, s;hAr 1 9f 2
cor.cerr:ir):' your f ree?!'or 1 of Lnfor':ation Act ~_'~i.l,~ ~ r?. riuest ?
_'.~ecificslly :cu asked for 'IA-or7trated documents or the
+ouse of _Isriel.
:j an
your lett "rs of 22 "epter~ber 1,4.;2 and 19 '`arch
1 9';12 we will proceed to search records sJ
?,nters in the ^ffice of
: ecu'rity, Cnntral Fnfer^nce an.i records in system, IV). IP wish
to rer;Ind you that tle systen 449 search may require
considerable time as we pointed out in our letter of 13 July
1`4S2. If you :r'ish to exclude system 149 from our search please
';vise us pro iptly, otherwise we will proceed as r.1anned.
The heavy volur:e of sore 2,300 information requests such
as :-.ours currently bein:~, processed by the Ar.er.cy has created
processir.r h cklogr. A1: o, we process all requests or. a first-
in, ?irst-out basis. mince we will not be Able to respond
within the 10 :+orkin 11
?1 ys stipulated by the Freedo- of
Information Act, it is your right to construe this as a :ienial,
sub nct to aopeal to the CI/! Inforration Review Ccr+r*ittec. It
would seer- more res.sonable, however, for us to continue
processin;; your request and respond ns soon as feasible.
Unless we near from you otherwise, we will assurre this is
agreeable to you and proceed on this bast s.
Sincerely,
Larry R. St: wr er^rsn
ri R. Strawderr+an ml.1 -I
Information Rnd Privacy Coordinator
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SEPZl 30 4R' 8 2
September 22, 1982
Mr. Larry R. Strawderman
Information & Privacy Co-ordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Thank you for your letter of September 9 concerning my Freedom
of Information request on the House of Israel.
Under the conditions you outlined in that letter, I am willing
to pay the reduced search fees. Your offer to waive fees
altogether if no information can be released is generous.
If you determine that any information you have on the House
of Israel can be released, I hope you will reconsider my request
for a total fee waiver at that time.
Sincerely,
AA AA
STAT
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Iq
Rebecca :Moore
Dear ;s. ;bore:
This Is in response to your letter of 16 August 1982
concerning your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for
CIA-originated documents on the house of Israel.
To answer your question in Item 1, our Office of Security
and the Office of Central Reference (OCR) were tasked for fee
estimates which totaled $42.50. The records in OCR consist
principally of raw unevaluated reports and finished reports,
namely, studies and periodicals.
With regard to item 2, you are essentially correct.
However, having reviewed your letter of 25 June 1982 again and
in concert with prevailing guidelines, I have decided to reduce
search fees by 50 percent at this time.
If any releasable information is located, that information
and your request will be reviewed in conjunction with the rules
and regulations governing the waiver of fees as published in
the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR Title 32, Chapter XIX,
Section 1900.25(a)] as well as relevant Department of Justice
guidelines.
We will consider a further reduction or waiver of the
remaining fees if, as the result of your request, information
is released that is found to be significantly useful or
otherwise beneficial to the public. Under the above criteria,
your request does not warrant a total waiver of fees at this
time. In the interest of being fair, however, we will not
charge you any fees should no releasable Information be
located.
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Please advise us of your decision concerninS your .?OIA
request. We are taking no further action on it pending your
reply.
Since rely,
/s/ Larry R. Stra:vderma$
Larry R. Straade rmn
Information and Privacy Cooruinator
STAT
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Auc 10 3 32 PM'8
1
August 16, 1982
Mr. Larry R. Strawderman
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Strawderman;
Thank you for your letter of July
13, 1982, concerning my
Freedom of Information request on
the House of Israel. I
have a couple of questions I'd like you to answer before I
make a decision on your proposals to expedite my request.
(1) You state that records system 49 is the system which has
created the biggest backlog in processing FOI requests, that
it is the most expensive component of the records search, and
that the bulk of the records in the system have to be withheld
from disclosure anyway. You go on to say that the other com-
ponents of the system have fee estimates of $42.50. Would you
tell me how many other components there are and what records
are in each of those components?
(2) I'm afraid I do not understand what your response to my
request for a fee waiver is. On the one hand, you "propose
to examine [my] fee waiver request in light of any information
surfaced and found releasable." On the other hand, in the
same paragraph, you state that I will be charged search fees
"if [your] search results are negative, if all records surfaced
are deemed not releasable, or if the information located is
duplicative of that already in the public domain." Does this
mean you will grant my fee waiver if you turn up releasable
information, or that turning up releasable information is a
pre-condition, but not necessarily a compelling one, to
consider my fee waiver? In any event, it appears that you
are asking to defer a decision on my fee waiver request until
after the search, which essentially commits me to an agreement
to pay all fees.
Would you let me know if my understanding on your position on
my fee waiver request is correct? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Moore
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13 JUL 1982
This is in response to your letter of 25 June 1982
concerning your Freedom of Information Act (I?OIA) request.
You may wish, in order to avoid a search that might
involve records from our records system 49, to limit your
request, at least initially, to just that information that
mi?ht be contained in other records systems. Records system
149, which 13 composed primarily of internal operational
correspondence and raw, unevaluated disseminations, is our most
backlo" ed system. Requests involving- records In this system
often take up to two or more years to process, and the records
are usually so sensitive and fragmented that the bulk of then
have to be withheld.
Please also he advised that records system 1!9 is the most
expensive component to search. The other components have fee
esti'ates totaling 3112.50, therefore, you ray want to consider
pursuing your request with these components only. Please
advise us of your decision.
I.-le note that you have ag':ed for a fee waiver. Since we
have no way of knowing. at this tire what information, if any,
we ray possess, we propose to examine your fee waiver request
In light of any information surfaced and found releasable. In
this regard, nlease be advised that in accordance with section
(e) of our fee schedule .(enclosed), fees are assessable even if
no records are found, or, If found, they are deemed not
releasable. Therefore, you will be charmed search fees if our
search results are reactive, if all records surfaced are deemed
not releasable, or if the information located is duplicative of
that already in the public domain.
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We are taking no further action on your case pending your
reply.
Sincerely,
/s/ Larry R. Strawderman
Larry R. Strawderman
Information and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
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JUN 13 3 04 PM '8?
Mr. John E. Bacon
Information and Privacy Co-ordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Bacon;
June 25, 1982
In response to your letter of May 28, in which you itemized
the fees you estimated for my Freedom of Information request
for all CIA-originated documents on the House of Israel,
I would like to request a fee waiver.
The Freedom of Information Act states that while an agency
may charge "reasonable" fees for locating and copying docu-
ments, it can also waive those fees if "furnishing the
information can be considered as primarily benefitting the
public." I believe my request meets all standards for
such a waiver.
Four years ago, 913 Americans belonging to a religious
community died in Guyana. Prior to the suicides in Jones-
town, Peoples Temple was investigated by several federal
agencies over allegations of gun-running and customs
violations. There were also rumors of violence within the
community and of links between Peoples Temple and the host
government of Guyana. Following the suicides, there were
new rumors, to the effect that Jonestown was a CIA-sponsored
mind control experiment, and that its leader, Jim Jones,
was a CIA agent.
Even while Jonestown flourished, there was another religious
community in Guyana inhabited by Americans. That community,
the House of Israel, is the subject of this FOI request.
Many of the same rumors abound about the community's relation-.
ship with the Guyana government and our own government
through the CIA.
The death of Jonestown was a tragedy without parallel in the
last ten years. In considering the benefit to the public
in releasing information about the House of Israel, I believe
you should recognize the similarities between the two religious
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June 25, 1982
communities and understand that any information in your
agency's files about the second group should be made
available while it still exists.
The legislative history of the fee waiver provision calling
for a liberal interpretation of the phrase "primarily
benefitting the public", suggests that all fees should be
waived when the person requesting the information is
doing so for the purpose of contributing to the public's
knowledge, understanding and debate of an important issue.
I plan to give the widest dissemination possible to whatever
information I receive.
In the event you deny my request for a waiver, I ask that
you reduce your fees. Asking for a commitment to pay a
minimum of $192.50 for a search which, as you noted, may
turn up no releasable information, cannot be construed as
"reasonable" within the meaning and spirit of the 1974
amendments to the Freedom of Information Act. As the House-
Senate conference report (#93-1380, p. 8) said, "The conferees
intend that fees should not be used for the purpose of
discouraging requests for. information or as obstacles to
disclosure of requested information."
Thank you for your consideration of these matters.
Sincerely,
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2 8 MAY 1982
This is an interim reply to your revised request of
12 March 1982 for information from the files of this Agency
under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Specifically, we
are referring to your request for CIA-originated documents on
the House of Israel.
As we indicated in our 5 April 1982 letter to you, we were
obtaining an estimate of costs that would probably be incurred
in complying with your request. The estimate is as follows:
7 on-line computer searches gt11 77.00
1 computer search equaling 10 80.00
minutes of CPU time f$8 per minute
1 1/4 hours of professional search 17.50
time @$14 per hour
3 hours of clerical search time a$6 18.00
per hour TOTAL $192-50
Please be advised that the search fees noted above are
those anticipated when there are few, if any, documents
identified. Should the number of documents identified during
our Initial search grow, the number of secondary and tertiary
searches necessitated will also grow. Therefore, the actual
search costs may, in fact, be much larger than those above.
Please advise us of your decision concerning the above
costs. We wish to advise you again that fees are assessable
even if no records are found, or, if found, they are deemed not
releasable. Therefore, you will be charged search fees if our
search results are negative or if all records surfaced are
deemed not releasable.
STAT
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 Sincerely,
John E. Bacon
Information and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
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We are taking no further action on your request pending
your reply.
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0 5 APR 'iR?.
ac:cnowled.;es receipt of your letter dated 19 'larch
1932 concerning your ?reedv^t of Information Act (?UTA)
request. .ie note your willingness to accept charges tin to
11"100. In view of this limit, I have requested estimates of
search fees from the conpon'ents ::lost likely to holds information
pertinent to your request.
We should have tiie fee es tina tes from the conponents in.
the near future aa-1 will be in further communication with you
at that time. In the :.eantime, we are placin- your request in
suspense. ?
Sincerely,
'
~1
,_
_?!'-mot
o 11 ,
J n acon
formation and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
STAT
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MAR 25 3 34 PA '82
STAT
March 19, 1982
Mr. John E. Bacon
Information & Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
I am willing to pay up to $100.00 for a search and
photocopying of CIA files for CIA-originated documents
on the House of Israel.
Please notify me if you anticipate the cost will exceed
that amount. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Moore
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12 MFR
This ac'knowled3es your letter of 26 February 1932 wherein
you refined your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Specifically, you are now requesting CIA-originated documents
on the ;louse of Israel.
Please be advised that we cannot cow-mence a search on this
3roup until we have your commitment in advance to pay for all
search and copying fees as we indicated to you in our letter of
21 January 1932.
:Je shall await your response regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
John E. 9acon
ion and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
STAT
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February 26, 198-2-
Mr. John E. Bacon
Information & Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Bacons
I would like to limit my Freedom of Information Act request
of January 6, 1982, to cover only those records generated
within the CIA -- i.e., no newspaper clippings -- on the
House of Israel.
If the CIA has any such records, they will include informa-
tion on Rabbi Emanuel Washington, a.k.a. David Hill. Because
Rabbi Washington is the acknowledged leader of the House
of Israel and, as a consequence, a public figure, I do not
believe the Privacy Act information you requested is
necessary. ?
To expedite your search, the House of Israel Is a religious/
paramilitary group located in Guyana, South America.
Thank you for your immediate attention.
Sincerely,
(u;~ fu-c
STAT
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 Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
2 1 JAN 1982
This is in response to your letter of 6 January 19R2 in
which you requested information from the files of this Agency
under tt e F reedon of Information Act (?0IA ). Specifically, you
asked for information on the House of Israel and Rabbi ,dward
.nanuel Washin ;ton, also lmotirn as David Hill.
3efore we can conduct a meaningful search of our files
under the name of an individual , :re need to have a full name
and basic biographic data. At the very least, we need a date
and place of birth and nationality. ';lithout such information,
it will be difficult or impossible for us to distinguish
between different individuals with the sane or similar names.
In addition, we would like to have a signed and notarized
staterier:t authorizing us to release personal information which
otherwise ,could have to be withheld in the interest of
protecting the privacy of the individual. In most cases,
without such an authorization, we would probably be unable to
send you much more than is already in the public domain, such
as newselips and the like.
Also, before we can conduct a search of our files, we will
need your commitment in advance to pay for all search and
copying fees. A copy of the A ency's schedule of fees for
services provided under the MIA is enclosed. Please notify us
of your willingness to accept responsibility for all charges
incurred in processing your request. Be advised that all fees
must be paid, even if our records searches uncover no relevant
documents, or if the documents found are deemed nonreleasable.
Upon receipt of your zgreenent, I shall arran a for a
search of CIA files and shall be in further communication with
you once the search has been completed and any records found
have been reviewed for relevance and releasRbility under the
Act. The running tine of your request will not cnxnrnence until
we are in receipt of your written commitment to pay all fees.
STAT
Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
 Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
We shall await your further instructions. Thank you for
your patience and consideration.
zL C_? ~/~'
John r. 2acon
I.-rffor:^ation and Privacy Coordinator
STAT
Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
 Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0
JAN 13 9 to aM ~ai
STAT
January 6, 1982
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence,. agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Sir or Ms.:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act,
5 UtS.C. 552.
I hereby request all documents referring or pertaining to
The House of Israel, abbi. Edward Emanuel Washington,
also known as David Hill.
Rabbi-Washington is a U.S.citizen residing in Georgetown,
Guyana, South America, so I also request all CIA records
on Guyana as they relate or pertain to Rabbi Washington.
Thank you for your prompt attention.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Moore
Approved For Release 2009/05/29: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501960019-0