Q214 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; Pt. 3).
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FBI Catalogue: Jones Speaking

FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “Aug 5 1978 News”

Date cues on tape: Tape contents consistent with identification label

People named:

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

Jim Jones reads the news for August 5, 1978.

This tape is divided into two recording sessions, almost certainly from the same day. The patterns to the two are very similar, though. He begins each segment with a lengthy reminder that Jonestown is expecting a number of visitors and guests in coming days, and he gives detailed instructions on how the people are to behave and what they are to say – and not say – when anyone approaches them. Many of the proscriptions are in direct response to the criticism that the community has received in the past few months, so they are to emphasize that they have no weapons, they do not have harsh discipline, they have access to their passports and are free to come and go at will, they have good food – including meat at every meal – and their philosophy is nothing but of peace. They are not to address him as Father – much less God – and they should greet each other by first name. They are not to talk about capitalism or socialism. “We are not against the government of the United States, and we are not for any other government. We are a cooperative people who believe in living in the communal setting, sharing equally. No sexism, no ageism, no special privilege, and certainly no racism.” They do not believe in suicide.

The other major theme of both segments is that it is the eve of the anniversary of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and the news is filled with references to it. All of it plays into Jones’ conviction that nuclear war is inevitable, and he mentions it 25 times on several different occasions. In other tapes, Jones often tags his fears to the end of another news item; here, it is a recurring and detailed theme. Among the (sometimes lengthy) discussions:

• China’s Doctrine of Three Worlds shares Jones’ acceptance of the “upcoming” nuclear war. “Peking feels that nuclear war is coming, as you know, and so they want to be able to be the people to build on the ashes of it, and thus assure that there will be world socialism after nuclear war.”

• “The Soviet Union still holds to the position that nuclear war can be avoided. I don’t share that. That would be a point where I disagree with the Soviet Union.”

• Daniel Ellsberg, the defense analyst who released the Pentagon Papers, is also convinced nuclear war will happen, and says that the match to start “the conflagration will be the neutron bomb,” which Jones describes as “the most inhumane [weapon] of all.”

• The population of the world is rising at an alarming rate, “but of course nuclear war will take care of that.”

• “In the most frightening news of the day, US and South Africa negotiate for a nuclear pact.”

In addition to this focus on the approaching holocaust, Jones reads several longer articles. They include:

• A review of a book on Chilean president Salvador Allende’s land redistribution program;

• Hispanics in Texas and Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia protesting police shootings, which includes Jones’ claim that police have murdered 1500 people since the beginning of the year;

• The role of Iraq in the geopolitical landscape and its relations with the USSR;

• Puerto Rico organizing against statehood and pro-independence.

Shorter news items include:

• Egypt unwilling to negotiate due to Israeli intransigence;
• Italy pardons 8000 prisoners;
• New York Times reporter goes to jail for refusing to divulge sources;
• US refuses Soviet proposal to exchange spies;
• British politician charged with conspiracy to commit murder;
• Jesse Jackson speaks on American freedoms;
• Divers off Miami coast claim to discover the lost continent of Atlantis;
• South African leader threatened with jail over criticism of government;
• Diet blamed as contributor to cancer;
• California anti-tax activist takes aim at income tax;
• San Francisco cuts services for elderly;
• Soldiers protest use of radioactive gunsights on their weapons;
• Seattle developers seek to gentrify central city, which would displace the poor;
• Elvis Presley volunteered to be informant for FBI;
• Drug firms trick people into becoming human guinea pigs;
• Police report that actor Bob Crane was murdered;
• Blacks march in Mississippi towns;
• Zaire makes arrangements to get better terms in selling natural resources;
• Zimbabwean and Rhodesian troops accuse each other of torture;
• South Africa attacks Mozambique with US-made planes;
• Namibia insists upon Walvis Bay as part of independence;
• Bus drivers are arrested in South Africa for striking for better pay and benefits;
• Youth festival in Cuba honors victims of Hiroshima;
• USSR critical of China world tour;
• Abolition forces on the march.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 6/7/79

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 28, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B69-40. This tape was found to contain the following:

JIM JONES reading daily news and announcements.

Differences with FBI Summary:

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

Tape originally posted June 2019.