Q347 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 “News Fri Sept 8”

Date cues on tape: Contents of tape consistent with identification note

People named:

Public figures/National and international names:

Temple adversaries; members of Concerned Relatives:

Temple members not in Jonestown:

Jonestown residents:

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

In a series of five short broadcast from the radio room, Jim Jones reviews the preparations Jonestown is making for the arrival of Joe Mazor, a detective hired by the Concerned Relatives but who more recently defected to the Temple side of the conflict (and whom Jones still doesn’t completely trust, referring to him as a possible double agent and former provocateur). Both because of that – and because Jones is suspicious that there might be a new CIA agent in Jonestown, purportedly to take over Mazor’s former role – Jones admits that he is not being as forthcoming in discussing some of the leadership’s plans for the immediate future. As the tape continues, Jones’ assessment of their arriving guest becomes more positive, as reports of Mazor’s own anxieties and fears about their enemies become known to him.

In the meantime, the Temple leader is trying to stage manage how Jonestown will present itself. In addition to the usual exhortations to clean up all the eyesores and beautify the bare spots with plants from the nursery, as well as his admonitions not to do more than smile and say hello when Mazor passes them – and certainly not to engage in serious conversation with the man – Jones urges consistently throughout the tape for his followers to learn greetings of peace and goodwill in several languages. He also plans to ask questions about the news during the community meeting which Mazor will attend, “to show how much knowledge you have of world events,” but some residents will have been pre-selected to stand up and answer the more complicated questions: “some of that should be arranged for a special person to respond, and I should know in advance who that will be.”

Jones sees his role as preparing questions to get information about the CIA’s activities – including its involvement with mercenary forces – to destroy the Temple in Guyana. He will continue to do so, even though he’s been fighting a virus that has left him feverish.

In the last two segments of the tape, Jones lauds the reports of Jonestown industry and ingenuity he has heard about, and the money which the toy manufacturing and development of new brooms will bring. Money remains on his mind in another discussion: there are two or three young Guyanese who wish to join the community, and their youth, energy and commitment would be an asset for them. Jonestown really can’t afford to take on that burden right now, Jones adds, although the community will likely grant the request, given the attitude of some of their neighbors that the Americans don’t want to “mingle” with the Guyanese. The other concern – reprising a continuing theme – is that they could be CIA, which “uses anyone,” including 16-year-olds, so they have to be careful.

Jones does reaffirm his commitment to Guyana, even as he acknowledges that some would like to transfer the community to the Soviet Union or possibly another country. Guyana is one of the few places that would be safe in the event of nuclear war, he reminds his listeners, even as he adds that they should keep their options open. “I just want something in case we need it.”

In and around his orders to the community, he reads the news of the day. Items include:

• The fallout from a meeting in Rhodesia between leaders of the two warring factions has had international repercussions:
• Rhodesian troops have entered Zambia following the crash of a Rhodesian airliner in its neighboring country;
• Margaret Thatcher and Edward Callaghan argue over scheduling a general election in Great Britain;
• The heads of France’s two main political parties argue over the national budget;
• Demonstrations in Iran kill thousands, as rebellion against the Shah spreads to all cities;
• Flooding in India may have been caused by CIA cloud-seeding;
• The House of Representatives votes to repeal the arms embargo against turkey.

The longest piece is a feature story about a criminal court judge in Detroit, Michigan, who is a self-described communist. The article reports on the unusual practices and rituals in the judge’s courtroom, the rulings he has made, and the respect he has earned from the community, including the city’s legal establishment.

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 2, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-82. This tape was found to contain the following:

News by Reverend JIM JONES to PT members at Jonestown. He requests that everybody study their Russian language lessons and old news tapes.

Differences with FBI Summary:

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

 Tape originally posted May 2016