Q378 Summary

Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.

To read the Tape Transcript, click here. Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1, Pt. 2).
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FBI Catalogue: Jones speaking

FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “Yugoslavia”

Date cues on tape: July 17, 1978 (specified)

People named:

Public figures/National and international names:

Temple adversaries:

Jonestown residents:

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

Jim Jones reads the news for July 17, 1978.

While intended principally as a news tape – including several items that Jones says the community will be responsible for in testing – there are several extended commentaries along the way. Two of them comprise parts of his readings on the countries of the world – their location and geography, population and demographics, and history – when he covers Zambia and Yugoslavia.

Other places seem more spontaneous. Understanding that every political system is flawed – not even the Soviet Union is perfect – Jones says that we have to choose between the dictatorship of fascism and corporate monopolies, and the dictatorship of communism.  He prefers the latter, casting his own lot with communism. In a lengthy aside, he expresses the wish that

There could be progressive leaders like Jim Jones, who will not allow power to do anything but be used for the people, that he is nothing more than a representative of the people, open to criticism … wants to give them the best life and knows that he does not have all the answers, but is the most pure, dedicated leader that he’s ever seen.… I know my side, my negative side has been subdued, it’ll never emerge, I’ll never be insensitive, I’d put my life secondary to any of you here, even some who’ve been cruel and insensitive and don’t care, and you’d kill me if you had an opportunity.

Following this diversion, he returns to the subject at hand, focusing on how the US uses cruelty and intimidation and even assassination to prevail its iron grip, even over its own citizens. The roster includes black leaders, but also white student protestors at Kent State University. “They murder white and black, they don’t give a damn. The ruling class eliminates, and what’s painful, is that they had to kill so few to stifle liberty in USA.”

A second discussion about the world’s reaction to Soviet treatment of its dissidents, including Congress’ over-reaction of suspending nuclear disarmament talks while Soviet protestors are sent to mental asylums or labor camps. (Jones’ own opinion is that being sent to mental institutes is more benign: “it is preferable than being put into the horrible prison conditions of USA, where a prison cell is overcrowded 15 to one.”) This leads to a broader discussion of international communism in general, Eurocommunism in particular, and most disdainfully, revisionism.

The reading ends, as many do from this period, with praise for Guyana and their place in it. The people of Jonestown should be happy, not only because they have escaped the racism and poverty of America, but because they have gone to the scenic wonders and pure nature of the jungle. In addition, as others have pointed out, here they’ll escape the nuclear war, which is an inevitability.

This is a recurring theme in Jones’ news tapes, especially during his asides, and reflects his life-long focus on nuclear holocaust, and appears several times here. So too does other disparaging language of the country from which they emigrated – the US is invariably described as racist, militaristic, and capitalistic, while its allies are invariably fascist lackeys of the imperialist superpower. The Soviet Union and Cuba, on the other hand, represent the vanguard of liberation, especially in black Africa, and even China, which has a “horrid foreign policy,” at least offers financial supports to those moves for independence.

Among the items in the news:

• Guyana Prime Minister Burnham reminds his countrymen in Britain that all is not well there, especially if Margaret Thatcher wins the election;
• The passage of the referendum in Guyana allows the government to consolidate power for benevolent purposes, such as giving it greater leeway to remove bureaucrats who steal;
• Guyana has been able to resist the International Monetary Fund and its accompanying strings and manipulative behaviors;
• An economic summit of capitalist states will discuss Japan’s protectionism;
• The Organization of African Unity endorses Cuban liberation efforts on the continent;
• The present of Cyprus withdraws from peace talks with Turkey, which itself is beset by intern al strife;
• Egypt will not agree to Israeli demands on the Gaza Strip;
• A former US consul to the Soviet union may have been engaged in spying;
• The likely successor to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev unexpectedly dies.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 6/18/79

In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.

On June 4, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-109. This tape was found to contain the following:

A recording of the “News of the Day” by JIM JONES.

Differences with FBI Summary:

The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.     

Tape originally posted June 2023.