Q324 Summary

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 “7-10-78 Sun News”

Date cues on tape:     Tape contents consistent with date of tape as July 9 or 10, 1978

People named:

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

Jim Jones reads the news for July 9 or 10, 1978. The newscast itself is fairly short, and is followed by a lengthy reading in the politics and geography of several countries, most of which had had a contentious relationship at one point with the United States.

The reading is likely from an almanac, which Jones describes only as capitalist. As is typical of these readings, Jones adds editorial comments, although most here are as notes comparing Guyana – always favorably – to the other nations. Guyana has better land than the countries he discusses, and the land is more fertile, so that the country is better able to feed its population.

He does add a few other substantive comments, though, such as his description of the necessity of the Marxist dictatorship of the proletariat: “Marxists cannot allow capitalist opposition, because the capitalists are a breed of selfish people who are always trying to take over again the people’s property, the means of production, the means of distribution. You can’t allow … capitalistic freedom, a freedom for capitalists who are greedy property-mongers, lust-mongers, you can’t allow them to exist in a socialist state.”

His only observation on Christianity reflects his latter atheism: “The great Catholic theologian, St. Augustine, [was born] 354 years after the death of Jesus. If he ever lived.”

Jones also inserts two references to homosexuality, both of which are slightly snide. In describing the population of Brazil, he observes that “Brazil has more open active homosexuality than any place I’ve ever seen in the world.” Later, in discussing China’s post-revolution collectivization of land, he asserts that the policy “has deprived the male of opportunities to use land ownership for oppressing and exploiting women, which has led to their narcissism and consequently their chauvinism and homosexuality.”

Among the shorter items which precede the reading:

• Israel backs Christian Phalangists in Lebanon;
• Sadat meets with Israeli opposition leader in Austria;
• Bangladesh and Burma experience tense relations;
• The majority party wins elections in Malaya;
• Basques demonstrate in northern Spain;
• Puerto Ricans in New York are beaten and arrested by police.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 6/20/79

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 3, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-65. This tape was found to contain the following:

News of the day and commentary by JAMES JONES.

JONES also speaks about several nations in the form of a history lesson. (i.e. Albania, Angola, China.)

Differences with FBI Summary:

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

Tape originally posted January 2020.