United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 12/31/80
To: Mr. E.J. O’Malley
From: [name deleted]
Subject: INQUIRY FROM THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE, (HPSCI) REGARDING JONESTOWN, GUYANA
Re R.S. Young – Mr. O’Malley memorandum 12/10/80, requesting INTD brief HPSCI regarding Albert Kahn’s association with Reverend Jim Jones.
DETAILS:
Messrs. [2 names deleted] met with Herbert Romerstein of HPSCI 12/22/80. He was advised that the Bureau was not investigating Kahn in 1977 and that the Bureau first learned Kahn was making arrangements for Jones to attend a World Peace Council meeting upon the receipt of referenced memorandum. Romerstein was provided a copy of an article dated 4/16/77 from the “People’s World” newspaper reporting that Kahn, et al., would speak on 4/17/77 at the People’s Temple in San Francisco.
Romerstein brought up several other issues not related to above that were discussed by [2 names deleted]
ACTION: None, for information.
[Page 2]
Memorandum
Date 10/22/80
To: The Director
From: R.S. Young
Subject : INQUIRY FROM THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE REGARDING JONESTOWN, GUYANA
PURPOSE: The purpose of this memorandum is to advise you of the receipt of a letter from Chairman Boland and a list of questions from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and to recommend that the Records Management Division (RMD) prepare a response to both the letter and questions and coordinate this response with the Intelligence Division (INTD) and Criminal Investigative Division (CID).
DETAILS: The HPSCI has previously advised us that they are conducting an investigation regarding allegations of possible Central Intelligence Agency involvement in the events that took place at Jonestown, Guyana, on 11/18/78. The Staff of the HPSCI has reviewed at FBI Headquarters a voice-enhanced tape recording of Jim Jones which was recorded on 11/18/78. On 10/3/80, the Committee was furnished with copies of all documentary material available to the public on this matter in the FBI Headquarters reading room. On 10/17/80, based on Department of Justice approval, SA Donald Hale of San Francisco was interviewed by the Committee Staff in their offices in the presence of Arden Schell, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and SA [Name deleted] of the Congressional Affairs Unit. During this interview the Staff asked that the Department furnish them with answers to three questions. By memorandum from Alan J. Parker, Assistant Attorney General, to Mr. [name deleted] dated 10/20/80 (copy attached), the Department has requested that we provide them with answers to these questions for delivery to the Committee.
[Page 3]
Memorandum from R.S. Young to the Director
RE: INQUIRY FROM THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE REGARDING JONESTOWN, GUYANA
By a letter dated 10/6/80 (copy attached), Chairman Boland, HPSCI, requested that we review our records to determine whether the House Committee on Foreign Affairs had previously been furnished material regarding the FBI investigation in this matter which was not furnished to the HPSCI. This letter was furnished to us by memorandum from Assistant Attorney General Parker to Mr. [name deleted] dated 10/15/80 (copy attached). An interim response to Chairman Boland’s letter has been prepared by the Congressional Affairs Unit.
Also enclosed herewith is a copy of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs letter to Attorney General [Benjamin] Civiletti dated March 30, 1979, and a copy of a memorandum from W.D. Gow to Mr. Moore captioned RYMUR dated 4/4/79.
RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that by the COB [Close of business] on 10/29/80, that the RMD in coordination with INTD and CID prepare and forward to the Congressional Affairs Unit the following:
1. A letter from the Director to Chairman Boland which answers the questions as to whether the Bureau has furnished information to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs which has not been furnished to the HPSCI and which will advise the Committee what action will be taken by the Bureau regarding any such information.
2. Will prepare answers to the questions set forth in Mr. Parker’s memorandum of 10/20/80.
[Editor’s note: Page 4 is copy of House Committee on Foreign Affairs letter to Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, which was transcribed in Serial 2138.]
[In addition, pages 5-7 comprise a copy of a memorandum from W.D. Gow to Mr. Moore captioned RYMUR dated 4/4/79, located at Serial 2120.]