Q311 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 “July 19 Japan Jamaica”

Date cues on tape:     Tape contents consistent with tape identification note

People named:

Bible verses cited:     None 

Summary:

Jim Jones reads the news for July 19, 1978.

Most of the elements of a typical reading are here – he praises his benefactors in the Guyana government, he lauds the forces of socialism and liberation in Cuba and the Soviet Union, and he disparages the United States, its allies, and the countries it props up through military or economic influence – but they are all somewhat reduced. So too are his messages and announcements to the community itself.

There is one tacit connection of the news to the Jonestown community, when he quotes the people of Cuba as being “willing to put our lives on the line in defense of liberation everywhere.”

For Jones personally, though, there is no greater issue in the world than the approaching nuclear holocaust, and he incorporates that message into several stories, most of which have little to do with nuclear weapons. He is able to connect it to a story about the American response to the Soviets decision to put two American reporters on trial for slander: among other reactions, two Republican Senators want to make all disarmament issues and peace treaties contingent upon the reporter’s release, which Jones describes as “madness… It is insanity of a highest degree, to hitch all of these important things for the peace of USA, where US citizens, over half of them to three-fourths of them would be dead in 20 minutes in a nuclear war, it is madness of the first magnitude to hinge such important talks on the fate of two individuals in the Soviet Union.” Jones makes similar, if less impassioned, predictions of upcoming nuclear war in responding to the American possibility of declining participation in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and Carter’s refusal to issues export licenses for computers to the Soviet Union.

Other stories in the reading include:

• Politicians and newspapers seek the dismissal of Andrew Young from the UN;
• Congress blocks both Carter’s energy and health care proposals;
• Advocates seeking lifting of Rhodesian arms embargo include “Uncle Tom” bishop;
• The Red Army of Japan blocks the opening of a new airport;
• The Bolivian army is charged with meddling in recent elections;
• A leftist candidate will be in the presidential runoff election in Ecuador;
• Argentina experiences a general strike;
• Capitalist nations at a summit vow to cut cooperation with nations supporting terrorism;
• China woos Caribbean nations, and Guyana and Jamaica respond;
• Guyana will train students from around the Caribbean in socio-economics;
• A noted Guyanese lawyer says problems with country’s electrical utility due to negligence and carelessness.

Jones also continues his series of readings on the geography and history of nations of the world, with entries on Jamaica and Japan.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 6/13/79

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 1, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-54. This tape was found to contain the following:

Reverend JIM JONES giving news and world events to People’s Temple members in Jonestown.

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

Differences with FBI Summary:

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