Q158 Summary

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

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FBI Catalogue           Jones Speaking

FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “Sept 1 News”

Date cues on tape:     likely earlier, around August 25 or 26, 1978 (John Paul I to be enthroned as pope, Jomo Kenyatta to be buried August 27)

People named:

Bible verses cited:      None

Summary:

(Note: This tape was transcribed by Vicki Perry. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.)

Jim Jones reads the daily news, offering periodic editorial comments and correlating the events in the world to conditions in Jonestown. Among the items he covers:

(Since Jones refers to a few dates in late August as still to come – unless he is reading outdated copy – the note on the tape box may be off by a few days.)

Jones begins the broadcast with the observation that this is “the only news that we get,” an observation which allows him to insert comments which cannot be challenged by any other news source. It also allows him to focus on the news on nuclear weapons-related issues which correspond with his vision of an approaching holocaust.

In discussing the upcoming talks between Egypt and Israel at Camp David, for example, he quotes King Hussein of Jordan as saying “a failure at the Camp David talks will lead to Arab government failures and leftists takeover,” then adds more ominously, “What happens in Camp David … could very well affect whether or not the war will have nuclear World War III.”

Similarly, while Jones often criticizes Chinese policies – thus revealing that the major source of his news is the Soviet news service Tass – he repeats one representation which he agrees with: “China says nuclear war is inevitable, will happen, it can’t be stopped, it’s too late in the day, and so all of her policies are based on trying to bring it about as soon as possible.” Later in the broadcast, after concluding one news item which reads “Moscow said she would do all she could to avoid a nuclear war,” Jones adds a postscript: “But we are preparing for war because it seems that the war clouds are getting lower over our heads each day.”

Other items show a heavy Soviet influence on Jones’ selection of news items. In discussing a British study on the build-up of weapons in the Warsaw Pact, Jones reports that, while the US has both more missiles and more warheads, those of the USSR are more lethal. “The Soviet Union has the most powerful missiles on earth,” he reports.

Some of the news stories allow Jones to draw parallels to life in Jonestown. The story about a police crackdown on prostitution in New York City – and the politics of race behind the crackdown – allows him to offer Jonestown as a contrast. “We as a people oppose any such behavior: prostitution, drugs, any criminal act,” he says. “We are fortunate to live in a community where we don’t even spank our children, where no violence is allowed, nor do we have to make laws against it, because it just doesn’t happen, where we live without regard of race, creed or color.” Later, when he speaks about the development of an anti-malarial drug in India, he notes, “We’ve not had to worry about malaria here.… We don’t have to worry about the viruses that beset the USA.”

The broadcast contains several acknowledgments of their political benefactors in Guyana. Jones points out that the leading newspaper has had two complimentary articles about Jonestown in the last week, and reciprocates with glowing descriptions of recent Guyanese visitors. “It’s a long, long article of praise,” he says of the second piece. “And we’re appreciative of such articles.… And we are grateful for the recognition of our work and what we have rendered the community.”

Later he singles out Guyana Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and various members of his cabinet for praise, and – perhaps more significantly – criticizes Burnham’s most well-known political opponent, Cheddi Jagan, the head of the opposition party, even though Jagan’s views on the issues more closely mirror Jones’. And when the Temple leader reads an item from a Burnham-leaning newspaper that the prime minister “said that he had matter of documentation that [Jagan’s party] had received billions of dollars in an attempt to destabilize the socialist [Burnham] government from USA multinationals,” his only observation is that it’s “an interesting charge.” The news and commentary ends – without editorial embellishment – with the conclusion of the Burnham organ: “One point is clear: most Guyanese are convinced that there must be no turn back as government proceeds along the road to socialist development and progress.”

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 5/25/79

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 May 24, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-8. This tape was found to contain the following:

JIM JONES broadcasting the morning news to include topics such as the revolution in Iran, a spy ring in Germany, ghettos, PATRICIA HEARST, Rhodesia, and Prime Minister BURNHAM.

This tape was reviewed, and nothing was contained thereon which was considered to be of evidentiary nature or beneficial to the investigation of Congressman RYAN.

Differences with FBI Summary:

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

Tape originally posted March 2009