This is a listing of cables transmitted during the second week after the deaths in Jonestown – November 26 through December 2 – mostly by the State Department or one of its embassies.
Sunday, November 26, 1978
Monday, November 27, 1978
Tuesday, November 28, 1978
Wednesday, November 29, 1978
Thursday, November 30, 1978
Friday, December 1, 1978
Saturday, December 2, 1978
A key to the notations in the columns appears below the chart. A note on sources used in the compilation of this chart also appears below.
It should be noted that many of the texts for the cables below were provided by the Wikileaks site, which was discovered to be defunct in late 2022. This is especially true for cables for which there is no corresponding pdf, such as the cable from Georgetown to State on November 26, 1978 at 1720, or which were heavily redacted, such as the cable from State to Georgetown on November 29, 1978 at 0405. For more discussion of Wikileaks’ collapse, click here.
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781126 | 0009 | State | 299113 | Funds for survivors to return to US | Text | |
| 781126 | 0118 | State | 299116 | Charleston prepares for arrival of survivors | Text | |
| 781126 | 0203 | State | 299118 | Embassy wants to accompany military on final pass through JT | Text | |
| 781126 | 0330 | Georgetown | 3940 8214 | Guyana requests military support to secure Jonestown | Text | |
| 781126 | 0330 | Georgetown | 3941 8210 | Embassy lists survivor locations | Text | |
| 781126 | 0335 | Georgetown | 3942 8213 | Info on Chuck Beikman | Text | |
| 781126 | 0354 | State | 299132 | Charleston prepares for arrival of survivors | Text | |
| 781126 | 0355 | State | 299133 | Embassy seeks to hire local legal counsel | Text | |
| 781126 | 1233 | Algiers | 3353 9540 | Report on Algerian press coverage | Text | |
| 781126 | 1505 | Port of Spain | 3396 3285 | Albatross III departs Port of Spain | Text | |
| 781126 | 1512 | Port of Spain | 3397 3286 | FBI agents visiting Barbados will be carrying guns | Text | |
| 781126 | 1543 | FBI | Tennessee jail inmate claims knowledge of Temple | Text | ||
| 781126 | 1720 | Georgetown | 3945 8215 | Health of survivor Edith Parks | Text | |
| 781126 | 1731 | Georgetown | 3946 8216 | Embassy to inform Secret Service of survivor movements | Text | |
| 781126 | 1830 | Georgetown | 3947 8217 | James Reston Jr. arrives in Guyana | Text | |
| 781126 | 1835 | FBI | Calif. doctors and dentists urged to provide medical records | Text | ||
| 781126 | 1845 | State | 299148 | State poses questions from press | Text | |
| 781126 | 1846 | State | 299149 | Situation Report 21: last bodies removed; Layton trial set; survivors leave | Text | |
| 781126 | 1858 | State | 299151 | Schedule of survivors departing Guyana | Text | |
| 781126 | 1900 | Georgetown | 3948 8218 | Embassy prepares death forms for Kaituma, Georgetown fatalities | State Stoen | Text |
| 781126 | 2021 | State | 299154 | GOG seeks helicopter | Text | |
| 781126 | 2040 | Georgetown | 3949 8219 | Miguel de Pina’s departure | Text | |
| 781126 | 2109 | FBI | FBI reports no criminal record for Beikman and Layton | Text | ||
| 781126 | 2115 | Georgetown | 3950 8220 | Disposition of remains of Jimmy Gill | Text | |
| 781126 | 2130 | Georgetown | 3951 8221 | Report on removal of final bodies at Jonestown | Text | |
| 781126 | 2140 | Georgetown | 3952 8222 | Ambassador reports no contact with Jim Jones | Text | |
| 781126 | 2210 | Georgetown | 3953 8223 | Embassy seeks to hire local legal counsel | Text | |
| 781126 | 2215 | Georgetown | 3954 8224 | GOG seeks helicopter | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781127 | 0022 | Bridgetown | 03455 | FBI visiting Barbados will have to surrender weapons, PT members “undesired” | Text | |
| 781127 | 0032 | State | 300000 | More names of JT dead | Text | |
| 781127 | 0050 | State | 300001 | Contingency plans for military equipment in Guyana | Text | |
| 781127 | 0602 | State | 300009 | Final body count removed from JT is 913; names of residents checked | Text | |
| 781127 | 1006 | State | 300010 | Survivor Eugene Smith urged to contact mother-in-law | Text | |
| 781127 | 1320 | Port of Spain | 3399 3288 | FBI agents en route | Text | |
| 781127 | 1351 | USICA | International media reaction | Text | ||
| 781127 | 1527 | Port of Spain | 3400 3289 | International media reaction | Text | |
| 781127 | 1715 | Georgetown | 3957 8227 | Information sought on Hyacinth Thrash | Text | |
| 781127 | 1720 | Georgetown | 3958 8228 | Media seeks answers on changing body count | Text | |
| 781127 | 1720 | Georgetown | 3961 8231 | US offers assistance to GOG in criminal prosecutions | Text | |
| 781127 | 1835 | Georgetown | 3963 8234 | Luckhoo declines to take Layton criminal case | Text | |
| 781127 | 1918 | State | 300157 | Options on replacing airplane engine damaged at Kaituma | Text | |
| 781127 | 1948 | Port of Spain | 3405 3292 | International media reaction | Text | |
| 781127 | 1950 | SSA | Social Security checks will stop Dec 1 | Text | ||
| 781127 | 2013 | Caracas | 11175 4784 | Venezuela cannot assist with request for airplanes | Text | |
| 781127 | 2120 | Georgetown | 3967 8237 | US discusses issuances of death certificates | Text | |
| 781127 | 2140 | State | 300237 | HEW secretary denies writing letter of praise for Jim Jones | Text | |
| 781127 | 2145 | Georgetown | 3968 8238 | Embassy drafts answers for congressional questions | Text | |
| 781127 | 2203 | State | 300272 | Layton’s father asks if relatives can visit | Text | |
| 781127 | 2230 | Georgetown | 3969 | Description of radio equipment taken from Lamaha Gardens | Text | |
| 781127 | 2235 | Georgetown | 3970 | Guyanese police take custody of physical evidence (Layton gun, 32 guns, briefcase) | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781128 | 0019 | State | 300468 | Cousin of Richard Janaro asks for contact | Text | |
| 781128 | 0245 | State | 300533 | Relative of Rebecca Beikman asks for contact | Text | |
| 781128 | 0346 | State | 300585 | Relatives of Tom Bogue ask about his condition | Text | |
| 781128 | 0733 | State | 300700 | Sit Rep 23: Military rescue to be disbanded; US to assist in GOG investigations | Text | |
| 781128 | 1030 | USICA | International media reaction | Text | ||
| 781128 | 1345 | Georgetown | 3971 8239 | Linda Amos passport located | Text | |
| 781128 | 1405 | Georgetown | 3978 8242 | AID Rural Development official visited JT in 1977 | Text | |
| 781128 | 1543 | State | 301042 | Travel authorizations | Text | |
| 781128 | 1640 | Georgetown | 3979 8243 | Statistical info on Jonestown bodies sought | Text | |
| 781128 | 1840 | Georgetown | 3985 8248 | Info on seven elderly JT survivors | Text | |
| 781128 | 1944 | State | 301207 | State seeks Dwyer statement | Text | |
| 781128 | 2015 | Georgetown | 3986 8249 | Radio report claims Jones did not commit suicide | Text | |
| 781128 | 2017 | Georgetown | 3987 8250 | Repatriation of elderly survivors | Text | |
| 781128 | 2040 | State | 301249 | Guyanese death certificates issued for 34 bodies | Text | |
| 781128 | 2128 | State | 301288 | Suicide note found on Jones’ body | Text | |
| 781128 | 2223 | State | 301364 | Congressional visit to Guyana will not make demands on Embassy | Text | |
| 781128 | 2240 | State | 301377 | Embassy authorized to spend money to support survivors | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781129 | 0059 | State | 301574 | Transcript of State Department briefing, 11/28 | Text | |
| 781129 | 0309 | State | 301672 | Transcript of State Department briefing, 11/27 | Text | |
| 781129 | 0405 | State | 301679 | Suzanne Jones seeks contact with Stephan Jones | Text | |
| 781129 | 0406 | State | 301680 | SitRep 24: Military leaves Guyana; elderly survivors prepare to leave | Text | |
| 781129 | 0412 | FBI | Sherwin Harris names survivors | Text | ||
| 781129 | 1245 | Georgetown | 3992 8254 | US extends offer of assistance to GOG in criminal matters | Text | |
| 781129 | 1440 | Georgetown | 3993 8255 | NBC provides legal name of Don Harris | Text | |
| 781129 | 1925 | Georgetown | 3999 8258 | US extends offer of assistance to GOG in criminal matters | Text | |
| 781129 | 1936 | State | 302046 | Dover makes 10 more identifications | Text | |
| 781129 | 1948 | State | 302056 | State will seek repayment of repatriation loans | Text | |
| 781129 | 2005 | Georgetown | 4001 8264 | GOG has letters of reference on behalf of Jones | Text | |
| 781129 | 2011 | Bridgetown | 3507 6830 | Crew of Albatross interviewed by FBI | Text | |
| 781129 | 2020 | Georgetown | 4007 8263 | No additional equipment needed for recovery | Text | |
| 781129 | 2030 | Georgetown | 4008 | FBI will not conduct investigation or interview survivors in Guyana | Text | |
| 781129 | 2131 | FBI | Jim Cobb provides information to FBI | Text | ||
| 781129 | 2210 | Winnipeg | 557 2450 | Canadian woman believes daughter may have died at JT | Text | |
| 781129 | 2215 | FBI | LA investigator speaks to FBI | Text | ||
| 781129 | 2341 | State | 302343 | AFIP wants GOG autopsies | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781130 | 0259 | State | 302459 | Father asks daughter to call | Text | |
| 781130 | 0336 | State | 302465 | GOG accepts offer of technical assistance | Text | |
| 781130 | 0337 | State | 302466 | State informs Embassy of law on disposition of personal effects of JT residents | Text | |
| 781130 | 0539 | State | 302484 | Transcript of State Department briefing, 11/29 | Text | |
| 781130 | 0540 | State | 302486 | SitRep 25: Elderly survivors leave; autopsies scheduled at Dover; JT to be sealed off | Text | |
| 781130 | 0753 | State | 302585 | Summary of understanding of events at Jonestown | Text | |
| 781130 | 0905 | Fukuoka | 0233 | Relatives believes his sister and family were in Jonestown | Text | |
| 781130 | 0939 | State | 302950 | Stephanie Jones father offers home in US | Text | |
| 781130 | 1130 | Montevideo | 4131 | International press reaction | Text | |
| 781130 | 1405 | Georgetown | 4013 8267 | Dwyer nears completion of report | Text | |
| 781130 | 1406 | Georgetown | 4014 8268 | Status of legal issues in determining Jonestown’s future | Text | |
| 781130 | 1440 | Georgetown | 4015 8269 | Status of Tom Bogue | Text | |
| 781130 | 1605 | Georgetown | 4016 8270 | Question of some PT members had become Guyanese citizens | Text | |
| 781130 | 1610 | Georgetown | 4017 | Description of Layton’s weapon | Text | |
| 781130 | 1703 | Georgetown | 4020 8272 | Beikman has attorney in Guyana | Text | |
| 781130 | 1705 | Georgetown | 4021 8273 | Embassy urges caution in notifying families of relatives’ fate | Text | |
| 781130 | 1741 | State | 303080 | Bodies cannot leave Dover without Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
| 781130 | 1800 | Georgetown | 4027 8276 | Embassy buys airline tickets for five elderly survivors | Text | |
| 781130 | 1949 | State | 303199 | State requests list of survivors | Text | |
| 781130 | 1950 | State | 303200 | Dispositions remains of Touchette family | Text | |
| 781130 | 2005 | Georgetown | 4032 | Leaders of SCLC plan fact-finding trip to Guyana | Text | |
| 781130 | 2010 | Georgetown | 4033 8280 | Embassy receives bio info on NBC crew | Text | |
| 781130 | 2017 | Georgetown | 4034 8281 | Joyce Parks identified as PT member who traveled to Venezuela | Text | |
| 781130 | 2021 | Georgetown | 4036 8283 | Beikman will be allowed visits by family | Text | |
| 781130 | 2045 | Georgetown | 4037 8284 | No one named Oolman died in Jonestown | Text | |
| 781130 | 2046 | Georgetown | 4038 8285 | No one named Jokela or Honda died in Jonestown | Text | |
| 781130 | 2149 | State | 303312 | State issues travel money for five survivors | Text | |
| 781130 | 2200 | Georgetown | 4041 8287 | Richard Dwyer’s account of events in Jonestown | Text | |
| 781130 | 2211 | State | 303343 | State withdraws request for aircraft from Venezuela | Text | |
| 781130 | 2253 | State | 303420 | State considers hit squad rumors against President | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781201 | 0035 | State | 303668 | Description of Justice Dept technical team | Text | |
| 781201 | 0202 | State | 303865 | Daily State Dept press briefing has only one Jonestown question | Text | |
| 781201 | 0236 | State | 303996 | SitRep 26: GOG appoints conservator; 5 PT members may have become Guyanese | Text | |
| 781201 | 0351 | State | 304036 | Dover identifies 34 more bodies | Text | |
| 781201 | 1325 | State | 304388 | Travel authorization for diplomat to provide assistance | Text | |
| 781201 | 1445 | Port of Spain | 3452 3321 | Query on location of Albatross in Barbados | Text | |
| 781201 | 1500 | Georgetown | 4047 8293 | FBI seeks access to materials which Embassy removed from JT | Text | |
| 781201 | 1505 | Georgetown | 4048 8294 | GOG expresses displeasure with some Embassy decisions | Text | |
| 781201 | 1523 | Georgetown | 4053 8298 | Trial date set for Beikman trial | Text | |
| 781201 | 1830 | Georgetown | 4057 8301 | No PT members were granted Guyanese citizenship | Text | |
| 781201 | 1855 | Georgetown | 4060 8304 | Repatriation of remaining survivors | Text | |
| 781201 | 1948 | State | 304542 | Michelle Touchette identified | Text | |
| 781201 | 2000 | Georgetown | 4064 8306 | Embassy seeks to lease Venezuelan plane | Text | |
| 781201 | 2044 | State | 304594 | Dover identifies 17 more bodies | Text | |
| 781201 | 2100 | Georgetown | 4066 8307 | US discusses taking custody of Albatross | Text | |
| 781201 | 2101 | Georgetown | 4067 8308 | Guyana knows time is getting short on death certificates | Text | |
| 781201 | 2105 | Georgetown | 4068 8309 | Status report on Bogue and Bagby, still in hospital | Text | |
| 781201 | 2155 | Georgetown | 4069 8310 | GOG and USG need to go to court on disposition of property at JT | Text | |
| 781201 | 2155 | State | 304695 | Unused military equipment at Dover to be returned to DOD | Text | |
| 781201 | 2212 | State | 304712 | Military aircraft no longer needed in Guyana | Text | |
| 781201 | 2215 | Georgetown | 4070 8311 | MaryAnn Casanova authorizes relative to handle burial arrangements | Text | |
| 781201 | 2230 | Georgetown | 4071 8312 | Several survivors released to return to US | Text |
| Date | Time | Origin | ID | Content | Text | |
| 781202 | 0038 | State | 304929 | State assumes responsibility of JT remains, thanks DOD for service | Text | |
| 781202 | 0131 | State | 305018 | State seeks info on whereabouts of Albatross | Text | |
| 781202 | 0231 | FBI | FBI interviews crew of Albatross | Text | ||
| 781202 | 0327 | State | 305256 | Funds granted to several JT survivors for return | Text | |
| 781202 | 0427 | State | 305302 | State Dept briefing 12/1/78 | Text | |
| 781202 | 0552 | State | 305308 | SitRep 27: Survivors returning; Embassy attaches seals to JT; US seeks reimbursement | Text | |
| 781202 | 1515 | Georgetown | 4075 8315 | 26 survivors in GT may leave | Text | |
| 781202 | 1612 | State | 305324 | Status of survivors | Text | |
| 781202 | 1759 | State | 305327 | Memo on funding of expenses | Text | |
| 781202 | 1915 | Georgetown | 4076 8316 | Six survivors in GT may leave | Text |
The cables at the basis of this research come from a variety of sources.
• The bulk of them came from the State Department itself, in response to a Freedom of Information request for documents on Jonestown and Peoples Temple. The request was made by Rebecca Moore and Fielding McGehee, who eventually became the managers of this website. Of the 5700 pages that State released in 1981, fully 3000 were cables dating from 1974 until 1981, most of them from November and December of 1978 and early 1979.
• A smaller collection from the State Department came in response to another FOIA request, this one for what the agency had on the custody battle over John Victor Stoen, a battle waged by Timothy and Grace Stoen, primarily against Jim Jones.
• The second most productive official source was the FBI, which released many State Department cables collected during the FBI’s investigation of the Leo Ryan assassination (RYMUR).
• In 2014, the State Department released thousands of agency files as part of a general declassification review. Hundreds of those related to Peoples Temple. They didn’t become widely available to the public, however, until 2015 and 2016, when Wikileaks put them online. While the resulting record was neither official nor complete – there are scores of cables that the State Department continues to withhold and that Wikileaks didn’t access – the texts that Wikileaks posted are accurate.
It should be noted that many cables contain information which was deleted under an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act. The majority of those cables were eventually re-released with the exemptions lifted. The more-recently declassified passages appear in red type of the text version of the cables.
The most commonly-used exemptions by State are:
b(1) = information the release of which would jeopardize national security
b(6) = information the release of which would violate an individual’s privacy
This is a key to the meaning of the columns and the notations within them:
Columns 1 and 2 comprise the dates and times that the cables were sent. The dates are in the format of the last two digits of the year (74-79), the month (01-12) and the day. As an example, November 18, 1978 would be designated as 781118. The times are in Greenwich Mean Time, used internationally on all cables. They are included because – especially in the first few days after the tragedy – scores of cables were flashing back and forth between offices on a single day.
Columns 3 comprises the government agencies and embassies sending the cables. Abbreviations include:
State = State Department
Georgetown = U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana
POS = U.S. Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
CAR = U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela
PAN = U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama
Column 4 provides the cable identification number, unique to each document.
Column 5 presents a brief description of the cable’s contents. (The abbreviation “W/W” which appears on numerous cables means “Whereabouts and Welfare,” the State Department’s notation of the checks it makes on American citizens in foreign countries.)
Columns 6 and 7 provide links to the PDF and Text versions of the cables. The PDFs which were provided through the second FOIA request for Stoen documents are noted.