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 “6-18-78 News”
Date cues on tape: Tape contents consistent with note
People named:
Jimmy Carter, U.S. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, former U.S. President
Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa)
Ronald Reagan, former governor of California
Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany
Benito Mussolini, Fascist dictator of Italy
Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (by reference)
Generalissimo Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain
Nicolae Ceausescu, President of Romania
Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt
Mobutu Sese Seko, president of Zaire
Felix Malloum, President of Chad
Modibo Keïta, former President of Mali
Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba
Omar Torrijos, Brigadier General, Panama Supreme Leader
Arnulfo Arias, former Panamanian President
Xavier Gorostiaga, Panamanian economist
Santiago Carrillo, author, general secretary of the Spanish Communist Party
Barbara Walters, television news anchor
Woody Allen, film director
Seymour Millstein, president of United Fruit Company
Debbie Blakey (by reference)
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
Jim Jones reads the news of the day for June 18, 1978.
Many of the sources for this tape – as for most of the news tapes – are either Soviet or Soviet-leaning. The United States and its allies are described as fascist, imperialist, and/or monopoly capitalist. The Communist states which do not adhere to Moscow’s line are described as apostate or renegade. The foreign policy of China, for example, a nation which the USSR distrusted as much as it did the West during the late 1970s, is characterized at “chauvinism in its foreign policy to the point of renegade running with the imperialist and outright lackey of US imperialism and the Trilateral multinationals.”
Some of the editorial commentary comes from the news sources themselves. Some undoubtedly come from Jones himself, as when he departs from a text about African famine – and the USSR’s highly-criticized contribution to help alleviate it – to remark, “Imagine USA imperialism even being threatened by the fact that the Soviets are trying to meet the 457,000 tons of relief grains, essential to keep the people alive for the next few months.” A moment later – while still reading the feature story about the effects of the African famine – Jones voices a familiar observation: “Who could believe that there’s a loving God, when babies die like this, like flies.”
Other comments are not so clear in their origin. An item about President Carter’s speech to Latin American leaders includes a possible motivation for its muted tone. Speaking as in Carter’s voice, Jones says, “I’m in enough trouble trying to protect the interest of the exploiters, imperialist multinational corporations in the USA sucking the blood of Africans, so I would sort of like to placate South America and not get embroiled in any disputes.” While expressing Jones’ views, this is read quickly enough and in a tone that suggests it could come from the news source itself.
Many news tapes include a feature-length magazine article focusing on a single subject with a Marxist-Leninist theme. This tape has two: the story of the African drought is part of a history of the Sahel of northern Africa, with special emphasis on the political and economic implications for the droughts which have plagued the region in recent years; and the aftermath of the signing of the Panama Canal treaties, again with special emphasis on the corporate and political implication for the Central American country.
Other stories include:
• Fidel Castro charges CIA interference in Cuba and Africa;
• A major military offensive looms in Zaire;
• The US presses Israel to make concessions to Egypt;
• China welcomes Spanish royalty;
• Tax revolt in the US leads to scuttling of several water projects;
• Portugal bans the neutron bomb;
• South African police disperse protestor;
• West German policy attack anti-Nazi demonstrators;
• Soviet cosmonauts establish a space platform.
The tape ends with a short review of a book on Eurocommunism, a concept which Jones often derides as revisionist.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 6/8/79
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 26, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B69-26. This tape was found to contain the following:
JIM JONES reading the Radio Moscow and Radio Havanna [Havana] News and announcements.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted June 2012