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: One Tracs 60/ “April 15 News (Russian)”
Date cues on tape: April 15, 1978 (from tape notation)
People named:
Guyana Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Vladimir Lenin, father of Russian Revolution
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
This tape consists of an edited version of Tape Q 759, and was even labeled as such by the people who recorded it: The full-length tape was described as “April 15 News”; this is the same, with the parenthetical “(Russian)” afterwards.
The contents of the tape comprise the portions of the news and commentary which pertain to the Soviet Union – including the arrival of Guyana’s Prime Minister Forbes Burnham in the city of Leningrad at the beginning of a state visit – to the exclusion of everything else. Even the edit is not all-inclusive of Jones’ discussion of the Russians, with the most significant omission being his reflections on the upcoming visit to Jonestown by a Tass reporter. For that reason, it is suspected that the tape was prepared to present to the Soviet journalist during his stay.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 3/28/79
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 March 20, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B62-77. This tape was found to contain the following:
Speech of JIM JONES regarding trip of Prime Minister Burnham (PH) to Lennigrad [Leningrad]. Talks about the City of Lennigrad and historical aspects concerning revolution of October 1917.
Speaks of Soviet Union as Uanguard [Vanguard] of Liberation. Speech political in nature, regarding Social Justice and struggling of oppressed masses for liberation.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.