D-2-C-34A
Temple letter from Larry Schacht and Eugene Chaikin to Forbes Burnham, August 1977
P.O. Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana
5 August, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Buildings
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Honorable Prime Minister:
Because Peoples Temple has been preparing to move in large proportion to Guyana, the bigots in the California area of the U.S. have been having a field day on us. Lt. Gov. Dymally has been put through the same thing, and we know that, too, is directly associated with our move and his support for us and your government. Actually, since it is generally realized now that we’re making this move, it’s surprising that there have not been greater attacks instead of their being localized as they have been. We’re sending you some letters from people who’ve been upset by the media reaction to our move and who offered to do anything they could to help. We suggested that they write to you – just as a way of letting you know that even where the fires are hottest the thousands who know us have not been burned by them. Some of the letters are from powerful community leaders – we could have easily sent you a thousand – and the California Assemblyman included is not even the representative for the district where our church and most of our members are located. And we’ve not made financial contributions to any of these organizations, except one.
What we find especially tragic is that, in the atmosphere of reaction pervading the U.S. and locally directed against us, certain elements of the black community have made outlandish false charges about your own character, imputing that you are the third richest black man in the world, and that Guyana is a dismal banana republic, etc.
We always like to keep the government abreast of what’s transpiring, even when the news is not particularly positive. It’s obvious that, although the President has made apparent overtures of friendship to Guyana, the general public and the Congress do not necessarily share his feeling. An article by a Time magazine writer (Robert Shrum) is enclosed, analyzing the stance of the present U.S. Congress, and another article shows the phony set- up employed by a small segment of the press to attempt to discredit us. We’ve not had bad publicity previously except initially in response to our support for Guyana, and we’re proud to endure that. In fact, we’ve had an optimal amount of positive press, and we’re enclosing just a few samples of the articles written about us.
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The spate of reactionary press was expected in connection with our move. As even our editor friends have said, the move is a hot item. However, it’s significant that the press even knows about our move at this stage because we’ve been extremely discreet. The word had to reach the press from provocateurs inside one of our Temples. Still, there’s been an attempt from the government to interfere; we’ve not thought that it would considering the support [remaining four lines of paragraph illegible.]
The owner of the periodical which recently [two lines illegible] viciously attacked President Carter in an article entitled the third term of Nixon. In case it’s missed your attention, there has also been a malicious attack on the [illegible word] United Nations Ambassador, Andrew Young. The Governor of the Senate of New Hampshire and other prominent leaders are demanding Mr. Young’s resignation. A petition bearing over 500,000 signatures claim he is a coddler of black murderers and a supporter of Communist causes. Even Mr. Yung’s apology for statements that need no apology have not seemingly [illegible word] the wrath of the vicious opposition, which is an unfortunate majority of the average, run-of-the-mill black citizens.
In the course of all this, we have been careful never to speak about the policies of Guyana, and we see nothing of the negative factors of life in the U.S. so as to avoid bringing any kind of pressure on your administration. We know the insidious disloyalty that you, too, must deal with. We have run into it all too frequently. [Illegible balance of paragraph]
We will gladly live as necessary to be [illegible word] supportive of our administration. [Illegible rest of paragraph]
We’ve learned to deeply appreciate your administration, first through [Illegible rest of paragraph]
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[Note: A clear copy of this page appears at page D-2-C-35C]
D-2-C-34C
Hubert Jack was most helpful with our project. We want to move the material we’re enclosing with this letter to the Ministers on the list below; they’ve all been extremely helpful and cordial to us, and we want them to know how much we appreciate them. We’ve been totally unaffected by attacks from the States on you and Guyana or by the immense amount of garbage unpatriotic people blatantly try to pour on our people in Georgetown as we carry on commercial activities for the Project. As Bishop Jones’ dear personal friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, made so clear in the lyrics of the song, “we shall overcome.”
Cooperatively, and sincerely yours,
Laurence E. Schacht, MD
Eugene Chaikin, Attorney at Law
Member of the Board
P.S. It is ironic that, while we have had some harassment from the white sector of the press, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, comprised of all black publishers plus some other minority and Caucasian publishers, just selected Bishop Jones for its National Press Freedom Award for all he has done for basic First Amendment and black peoples’ rights.
cc: Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Minister Hamilton Green
Minister Frank Hope
Minister Leonard Hoyte
Minister Hubert Jack
Minister George King
Minister Vibert Mingo
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D-2-C-32
Larry Schacht letter to Forbes Burnham on internship, August 6, 1977
P.O. Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana
6 August, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Building
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Honorable Prime Minister:
I was very pleased to learn yesterday from the Chief Medical Officer of Guyana, Dr. Baird, that I will soon be able to finish my internship in Guyana. I look forward immensely to this prospect, and know I will learn about diagnosis and treatment of the health problems of the people here.
My desire to serve as a doctor in Guyana is due to the positive effect Bishop Jim Jones has had on my life and the love and respect for this country and its government he has imparted to each of us. I came from an upper middle class environment of self-centered capitalism. Bishop Jones completely reoriented my life toward socialism and was also responsible for my going to medical school. The bishop caused me to love Guyana before I ever saw it.
I intend to work here without salary because of Bishop Jones’ example. He has brought our entire medical team to serve in Guyana, and we each intend to devote our lives entirely to this goal. We want to make Guyana our home. After completing my internship, I would be honored to work in the hospital at Matthews’ Ridge, as Dr. Baird discussed with me.
We also have two premedical students here. If there are no medical training programs here within a year or two, we would like them to go to Cuba to study under a socialist discipline, rather than in the materialistic environment of the U.S. or Canada. These students have rejected that allurement already in order to come to Guyana, like Bishop Jones, we are all in agreement with your plan to get advanced training in Cuba.
We truly appreciate being able to live in this fine country and to anticipate many happy endeavors here, serving and cooperating with the government
Cooperatively and sincerely yours,
Laurence E. Schacht, M.D.
Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Minister Hamilton Green
Minister Frank Hope
Minister Leonard Hoyte
Minister Hubert Jack
Minister George King
Minister Vibert Mingo
P.S. Of course, in regard to our premedical students studying in Cuba, it is requisite that they bring their skills back to Guyana.
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D-2-C-33
[Editor’s note: This letter is a duplicate of the previous page, although the P.S. does not appear here.]
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D-2-C-24a
Joyce Parks Letter to Forbes Burnham, August 18, 1977
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears at D-1-L-6 (13) – L-6 (14) at https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=129824.]
18 August, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Office of the Prime Minister
Public Buildings
Brickdam
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Honorable Prime Minister:
I understand one of our people has written to you recently and apprised you of the situation Rev. Jim Jones and Peoples Temple are facing in the U.S. Some of us thought we should assure you again that we will never speak publicly about U.S. governmental policy, and we will always speak supportively about Guyana and cooperative socialism.
With deep regret, we also feel we must say that, from our experiences, it is necessary to be very, very careful regarding possible contact with reactionary elements in the states. We’ve been told by people from the highest level, almost in fear and trembling, to be very concerned about what is going on. The hostility and rancor there are incense, with only the two exceptions of significance, (President Carter and Andrew Young) possibly representing change.
It distresses us immensely, not just for our own sake, to hear these people tell us that all of our problems began with our support for the government of Guyana, people who have caused the most trouble have been real provocateurs, a Trotskyite element given to anarchistic radicalism and terrorism. They have really been too much to behold.
We have many affidavits from people both inside and outside our own organization about each of the individuals involved. We don’t wish to destroy anyone’s reputation – these were taken simply as a defense against provocateurs. Our attorney said we needed them. They are available to you if you ever need then. We are terrorized that the U.S. might do something to betray Guyana, which we have grown to love immensely.
It is ironic that reactionary newspapers are using terrorist radicals! A very strange marriage, to be sure. They want to trigger outright confrontation in the public mind with people who uphold socialism as a way of life. Andrew Young was brazen enough to state his views, and you know what an attack he has come under, despite his statements supportive of the U.S. The television media has been particularly involved, and always paints Guyana in the ugliest terms.
Obviously, the attack is based on the ideals that you have established and intend to live by and that we have likewise espoused and practiced, because it never started until our support for Guyana was made public. We certainly don’t believe any of the allegations against Guyana, as referred to by Lt. Governor Dymally in his letter of 3 August.
It is good, in a way, that all this has happened. It has only made us more determined to stand in life or death with the goals of socialism. We pledge this.
We are enclosing some additional letters from our supporters which were forwarded to us by our comrades in the states. We could actually show you a suitcase full
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of such letters, but I‘m just sending samples from the core sensitive and influential community leaders – and nay have Biased sone of those. These samples even show support by people who do not necessarily have the same political view as ours.
I’m also enclosing for your interest an article which appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It was brought to our attention by someone who recognized its relevance to our present situation. Considering that Dr. King committed his last hours speaking out against the exploitation of the Third World, with particular reference to the Vietnam fiasco, it is not surprising that the dramatization discussed in this article misrepresented his commitment, which was played down by the play-it-safe liberals.
On the positive side, we thought you might like to know that the wife of Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations brought a beautiful multi-racial child to us in Jonestown. It had practically expired from physical need. She was greatly concerned for its future, and thought Jonestown would be a good place for it. We are happy to be adding this child and other Guyanese children to our beautiful rainbow family of so many adopted children, and will give then the best possible hone.
This is really our function here, not getting involved in political matters, which we leave entirely up to you. We will however, try to keep you informed as we hear things that seem important to you.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ Joyce A. Parks
Joyce A. Parks, RN
Medical Practitioner
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D-2-C-35
[unsigned handwritten note about attack: “added to 18-8-77 letter to Cabinet & State ministers, but sent only to those who did not get the Schacht/Chaikin letter.”]
Note: The letter sent previously to Prime Minister Burnham by one of our Comrades which I can’t locate right now to enclose, discussed the vicious attack launched against Rev. Jim Jones and Peoples Temple on account of our support for Guyana and the movement of a large number of our people here. California’s Lt. Governor Dymally has been put through the same thing. The head of a local tax enforcement agency who knows our commitment and integrity himself said our support of Guyana was the reason we were singled out for attack.
A segment of the reactionary press has made the attack, though we’ve had very good press in the past. The black press has been supportive all along but there are even certain elements in the black community that have joined in making outrageous charges about the character of the Prime Minister, and painting Guyana as a dismal banana republic republic. Of course, none of Peoples Temple is the least bit affected by such reports, nor by the ridiculous amount of bunk disloyal people in Georgetown dump on our members as they go about our business here.
Some of the attached letters from our supporters in the U.S. were enclosed. Community and church leaders, and government officials called to ask what they could do to help in our time of persecution, and one of our people in the states suggested that letters of support would show that they were not impressed with the voice of reaction. To date, no one in government, at any level, has joined the attack, which has been contained entirely, within the reactionary media.
JAP [Joyce A. Parks]
Rev. Jones was recently awarded the National Press Freedom Award by the National Newspaper Publishers Association for all he has done for basic First Amendment and black peoples’ rights. The Association is comprised of all black publishers plus some other minority and Caucasian publishers, justly concerned about freedom.
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Note: Mrs. [Rosalyn] Carter also commended Rev. Jones by telephone for the work he has been doing with Peoples Temple in Guyana, South America
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D-2-C-26A-26B
[Editor’s note: This letter is a duplicate of pages 24a – 26b, above.]
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D-2-C-23
Joyce Parks letter to Forbes Burnham, August 30, 1977
30th August, 1977
Honourable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Government Public Buildings
Brickdam
Georgetown
Republic of Guyana
Dear Comrade Leader:
Enclosed please find additional letters expressing support for the leader and founder of Peoples Temple, Bishop Jim Jones, and the works of the Peoples Temple in California.
In addition to the support received in a written form, a large rally where nearly 4,000 persons attended was sponsored by Angela Davis, the Black Legislative Caucus of California, the Black Teachers Caucus of California, and Caesar Chavez (United Fam Workers). Emphasis was placed on solidarity for Peoples Temple and Jim Jones which is an example of the victimization that principled socialists encounter. Angela announced to the entire public which gathered to show their support for Peoples Temple, that Guyana would not yield to this kind of thing. Thousands of supporters from the left have spoken out on our behalf, and the New York Times is asking to do an expose of what has shown itself to be an obvious conspiracy by right-wing elements.
We are glad that we chose Guyana as our home for the courage which the leadership, especially yourself, has shown in maintaining sovereignty by not surrendering to reactionary pressure. The farm is doing very well and we will not fail you in loyalty or work performance. The Bishop, Jim Jones, has praised your commitment to Socialist Guyana on many occasions. He sends you his warmest personal regards.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ Joyce A. Parks
Joyce Parks, (Medical Practitioner)
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D-2-C-21
Paula Adams/Sarah Tropp letter to Forbes Burnham, September 13, 1977
[Handwritten note at top of page: “Sarah wrote this”]
13th September, 1977
(copy)
Honourable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Office of the Prime Minister
Public Buildings
Georgetown.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing some material which will demonstrate the conspiratorial efforts originating in some reactionary elements of an agency or agencies in the United States to discredit the work of Peoples Temple and its leader, Jim Jones. I think that even a brief glance at these materials will help serve to enlighten you as to the nature of this unfortunate effort. I particularly want to call your attention to the statement of the leader of the American Indian Movement, Mr. Dennis Banks, a statement which he gave at a press conference held by our counsel, Mr. Charles Garry. Mr. Banks is merely one of the witnesses who have come forward to expose this attempt to undermine a nonviolent socialist organization. I am sure you will agree it is a powerful commentary.
In recent days, we have been very appreciative and gratified at the support that our efforts here in Guyana have received from a wide spectrum of community and church leaders. Among those who have spoken out in defense of not merely Peoples Temple and Jim Jones, but of Guyana as well, are Angela Davis, Huey Newton, leaders from all facets of the socialist and communist parties in the United States, moderates such as Lt. Governor Mervyn Dymally, and even conservatives. We were deeply touched to find out that at an upcoming United Nations conference in Geneva, Switzerland the American Indian Movement will be coming out in full support of Jim Jones and our work here. We were moved by this sincere gesture because the conference, by the description of the AIM leaders themselves, is the most important conference for the American Indian people in over 300 years. Just last evening we heard that representatives from the Soviet Union had also expressed their firm support.
I think that more than anything, however, that we want to extend our thanks and appreciation to you and to Guyana for your understanding and acceptance of our work here. I can say unequivocally, you will not be disappointed.
Very truly yours,
Paula Adams, Co-ordinator
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D-2-C-22
[Editor’s note: This letter is a duplicate of the previous page.]
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D-2-c-20a
“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, September 26, 1977
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears as BB-17-hh-1 – BB-17-hh-5 at https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=127357.
[Editor’s note: Although this letter is supposedly from Jim Jones, it was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff.]
Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission
PO Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana
26 September 1977
Honorable Forbes Burnham, Prime Minister
Parliamentary Building
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
We have heard continuous comment that Regional Minister Fitz Carmichael and Gregory Gaskin, Director of Matarkhi, do not like us and it seems in part to stem from jealousy of what we have accomplished. In connection with this, neighbors of ours regarding these have quoted them and have quoted things they have said about us.
ONE OF THE LATEST RUMORS CIRCULATING IN THE AREA IS THAT WE BURY PEOPLE ALIVE… They have actually said we use torture and murder people. While naturally some of this can be attributed to the kind of gossip that would surround any new cooperative, it would appear that some of this is done with official sanction and LITTLE IS BEING DONE to counter these rumors by these officials: how long will these rumors be allowed to persist.
Of course, some people just want to tear down what a cooperative can do. Perhaps some reprimand would be in order as we have heard about these two men’s attitude and behavior from many Guyanese. These two officials certainly have not been as helpful as they might have been, and it appears that as officials in this area they should be trying to assist a cooperative instead of trying to impede our progress – or doing what they can to impede our progress.
One source of these rumors could be a man who spent a little time in the hospital in Matthews Ridge (whom we sent back to the United States); he had managed to get here without anyone’s help. He is such a wino that his mental capacity is impaired. We tried to put him on a work program and naturally he did not want to do any work at all; he just basically wanted to drink and raise a ruckus, and so he left. He is for the most part out of his head. He did not go through the screening that a person would go through before we accept them for rehabilitation. If he had, we certainly would have rejected him because he was obviously too far gone in terms of his longing for alcoholism, and he came on his own. He had never worked in his life. He had spent his entire life just bumming off of other people. People who don’t work to earn their way obviously have to lie to get it; we all work here. He could not fit in. Had he gone through our normal screening procedures, he would have been screened out because he is actually insane.
This man heard us analyzing every news article regarding ourselves. This could have put in his mind all kinds of ideas from which to invent further fabrications about us: whatever would suit his own interests.
We believe in critical analysis of our enemies and we always publicly read and discuss their charges (even though we know they are all lies), hunting for any air of truth. We believe with that one great man who said you learn much from
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even your enemies. So that is where the fellow picked up the rumors about us. We discussed what was in the papers and we certainly did not have to do that. We went into every detail – we would laugh at the foolishness of it, but we do not hide from criticism, right or wrong, we look it squarely in the face. However, we found it all absurd. About the only thing that was correct in this mess was it they would occasionally print our names right.
We are having a problem here with some of these low-level, petty bureaucrats. Fortunately, we have a lot of good will among the citizenry. However, they are bringing us the most ludicrous reports and it would be appreciated if something could be done cause or encourage these people to be honest.
THE LAST REPORT WAS THAT WE KILL CHILDREN AND BURY THEM … and I don’t mean that just a few have reported this. Many at the market, people to whom we were given the free food, came to our workers there (we give thousands of pounds of free food such as fish, rice, plantains, etc., every week in the area). These citizens, though not believing it, brought us the reports that were being circulated. Obviously we understand that those that see a structure working are going to feel threatened. If there are any pointers we can be given so as to be less threatening or so as not to threaten, we would appreciate it. But we surely have tried to carry this thing humbly.
It would make us very comfortable in someone from your office, or preferably yourself, could personally go through our nursery and see it as it is probably one of the more advanced nurseries in the world. We have psychological counseling and top-notch medical care. You can’t get any better in medical care than what we have out here. Perhaps it is because of the rumors and lies from officials that have caused some people to take such liberty? For the first time we have had vandalism and stealing: perhaps due to the official sanction that may be given. We still wonder if someone is not getting official sanction on some level?
We are no longer sure of a person’s motive when they come out to visit the farm. This creates a climate that makes us naturally have to be that much more cohesive because we are not sure of a person’s interest in coming. We open up the program to them, and they come in daily and everyone seems very impressed that comes and goes. A little later we will try to get some names of these people. We did not try to get the names because we did not wish dignify such stupidity. Our workers did not try to get the names of who said what to whom … but we probably could have gotten this if we had asked. It makes a very bad climate in which one has to work; it is hard enough being a foreigner without having all of this garbage on top of it.
The miracle of all is that we built up so much good will with the citizenry as neighbors that they brought this to us and told us that the officials said to them and told some of this stuff. But it hurts our people because nobody loves children any more than we do. One can just look at our children and see how well adjusted, how well nourished and how cared for they are. We are getting apprehensive about local officials coming through evaluating it. We would like to get something from you to these officials. This is the kind of thing we left the states for: rumors from white racists saying such things as we forced whites to marry blacks, that if a person had a white baby born we would destroy it, and this kind of insane statement.
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You have already heard about the two chaps coming up not liking us. We have no feeling about them at all except that they have been not as warm as some; but we are not getting so sensitive that we are expecting all to exude the same degree of cordiality. However, Gregory Gaskin as asked more questions about what our religious beliefs are than anything we are doing at the farm. He has a fixation on the THEOLOGICAL … yet, he claims to be a socialist!
Our greatest pride is our belief in the idealistic, socialist belief. The straight socialist belief has no religious connotation. Also, we are proud of our racial heritage and proud of being part of the Third World.
One of the bad things about bureaucrats feeding out such rumors is that nearly every one of us in the whole movement has some black or is mixed race and we had to work very hard with Amerindians to overcome their prejudice against blacks. Not only does their spreading lies hurt us, but it hurts everyone in the black culture and black leadership in this country. We have built up good will FOR the government.
Now as to the other matter, can you see we are always up front with everybody, so this other matter is the same, all part of the same nibbling thing. This concerns us somewhat – the custody situation. We have a retained counsel whom we have had for many years, and we also recently retained a new attorney for another matter. We have never been charged in the past by our long time attorney, until just this week when we were sent and outstandingly large bill for services that were not even rendered. Also, our new lawyer told us he would not be charging us at all, because he understood the humane type of service we are accomplishing in the Northwest. However, we also received a very large bill from him this week. This is such a diversion of funds. It is strange to us that we are told there will be no charges, and then suddenly there are charges! We think sometimes people take the freedom to take advantage of us, and that the lack of doing so in the past – has been directly co-related to whomever they are in contact with in the government’s approval of us. We would like to understand if there could be anyone muddying the waters in that area. (Someone is not as up front with us as they ought to be.)
Radio Demerra [Demerara] did not like our broadcasts and thought them with too much emphasis on socialism and rejected our recording. I realize you may not be able to do anything about this. I realize the difficult stage of evolution to true socialism. I understand you are dealing with some petty bourgeoisie. We realize that and so will try to ameliorate whatever these fools want in that term. We do not expect you to make amends, but think we ought to keep you posted. We don’t expect you to make changes overnight. We understand that we moved into a counterculture. We lived in the counterculture in the states and so we know the horror of it, and the process of that society when we got very emboldened and spoke our socialist ideas. It was then that all of the pressures and blows came; when we labeled our ideals “socialism,” the suicide in their system came forth.
On radio station GBS [Guyana Broadcasting System], the person directly in charge of TAPING the broadcasts there and airing them, said he does not believe in socialism and he does not believe in certain policies; however, he said he certainly understood what WE ARE TRYING TO DO. This broadcast was putting our religious beliefs into PERSPECTIVE
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with socialist living; he was very impressed with this and it seemed to have brought him around “a little,” and I think that would be significant to mention – that we are bringing people into the consciousness of the socialist living through the broadcasts. In fact, the matter is so contradictory: some of the greatest diehards have been so much more impressed by our work, i.e., the person at GBS, while some of those who supposedly have the right ideology seem to feel threatened and say it is really weird for us to be socialists.
We have gotten people to respect the administration who singularly said so, because of our presence (unless they are total liars). That is what caused them to be so impressed than ever, they said. I am not sure how many have said this, I recall there have been numbers who have.
You might be interested to know that contrary to all of the ethics of the American Bar, Grace Stoen’s lawyer, Jeffrey Haas, (Grace is the so-called mother of John Stoen whom they are trying to take custody of) went directly to the US press, to one of the conspirators who has been writing from the beginning (which was no surprise from the way he talked). He said very ugly things. We could give you other quotes Haas has said about blacks and other quotes Haas said about this country and other quotes he said about socialism, but we do not see the point of taking your time.
Haas claimed (and told the press this) that our church had three people residing in his hotel here in Guyana just to keep tabs on him. He sounds like a lunatic or a raving paranoid. We certainly do not need three people residing in a hotel just to look at him… Actually, it was an accident. They did not “pick” that hotel specifically – the couple was visiting their daughter in Georgetown, a couple who are members of our group. And so it happened that these members of our church were at dinner and overheard Mr. Haas in a conversation in the restaurant where he was bragging about the case. Unwittingly, he thought we were watching him – that was ironic.
Grace’s lawyer, Haas, made braggadocious remarks about how he was going to win the case. Our people overheard him talking at the time when he did not know who they were. They heard him making all of these remarks about “niggers,” and even heard him say that “they” were waiting to attack Guyana AFTER “they” get the child…
It is interesting that he would say “they” and it is obvious that an attorney is not supposed to be going to a newspaper. That is not ethical protocol for an attorney to follow. It only FURTHER PROVES how very connected this entire conspiracy really is!!
The fact that he said “they” are waiting until after they get the child … shows that you cannot depend upon one ounce; you are not going to buy any favors with them.
They don’t represent much coverage in the press now; we are beginning to balance it out certainly with the exposé that has come out about the conspiracy. Perhaps you know already, but there is a marriage – an undoubted marriage, whether official or unofficial, between the two publishers, [Rupert] Murdoch and [William Randolph] Hearst. Their reporters are interchangeable and involved in this whole mess, and they interrelate in most departments. On the West Coast there is an undoubted marriage.
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In closing, we send our warmest regards.
Affectionately yours,
Jim Jones
JJ: tl [Tish Leroy]
P.S. There is a 23-year-old woman named Maria Katsaris who is living up on our farm. She is dating and planning to marry one of our doctors there. Her Father, a Mr. [Steven] Katsaris, is coming to town tomorrow to try to find Maria. Mr. Katsaris is very supportive of the Junta in Greece, and has very suspicious connections. Mr. Katsaris is an extremely possessive person and had a sick-sick involvement with his daughter in the past, until she broke out from his oppression. He is very disturbed that she is with blacks and with the perspective she now has. Adults do have certain freedoms, however, and do not have to be imposed on by people that are insidious to them. That is the way she feels and that is the way we will maintain our position. Mr. Katsaris will not come through this gate.
Copies to: Dr. P. [Ptolemy] Reid
Minister Fred Wills
Minister Vivert [Vibert] Mingo
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P.S. for Dr. Reid only:
The same loyalty I feel for my people I feel toward you.
Minister Wills only:
I was terribly impressed by your speech, and would like to have copies of several of your speeches – I really would like to have. Your speech at the Pegasus Hotel to the Rotary Club was a speech with which I could not concur more. Your emphasis, not on the ideological trusts, but on the Third World alliance – calling for that and not the trust system; realizing that the Third World had to get itself together! was superlative.
Memo from Paula to Dr. Reid:
In my own opinion, if Minister Wills had not taken just a little too lightly the custody situation when it first started, much of what occurred could have been avoided. In fact, Minister Wills told us they would try to do something while he was out of town; but even so, he was surprised at how fast and how much help they got.
– Paula
P.P.S. Dr. Burnham only:
I appreciate your emphasis on freedom of religion and appreciation for those who teach cultural pride, nationalistic pride, emphasis on African History. You have a very broad tolerance for all religions and I feel deeply appreciative.
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D-2-c-18a
“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, undated, likely fall 1977
[Editor’s notes: This letter also appears at BB-17-ii – BB-17-ii-8 at https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=127357.]
[Although this letter is supposedly from Jim Jones, it was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff. The signature at the end does not match that of Jones’.]
For: The Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Buildings
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
Because of gravest concern, we are doing our own investigation into one of the principal agents in the conspiracy formulated in the states that is attempting to destroy our movement. In line with this investigation, some of our people were on hand and overheard comments about us, a strongly worded and in racist, fascist terms. Of course he did not know that he was being observed. It was reported to me second hand, so I can only relate “in essence” what was said.
The agent stated that they (the conspirators and he) had tried on every level to reach us – me in particular – through a legal frame-up. They failed in this, however, and so now they had devised a strategy for draining me personally in every way they could. He said they would try to in “some” way to put me out of this country … or to kill me.
This conspirator against our movement, David Conn, is an admitted agent of the US government who works for a large oil company very much involved in the Caribbean. He works for the big oil company, yet is a government agent, and is investigating Peoples Temple … he does not explain the rationale.
We also found out that they have hired a high-powered, uncle Tom lawyer to start another custody case against me. This lawyer is known to represent anyone and everybody so long as a dollar is behind it. We have more reliable information that the attorney for the first case was paid $25,000 for just this one case of John [Victor Stoen] alone.
Please put an end to the custody cases.
Our attorneys in the United States say that it could be ended by telling them there is no jurisdiction. One of the agents said that they tried and GOT encouragement from someone in the government here, by being told that he could do something about John even before they came down. They have been given encouragement and they CAN fight these matters through the courts and win.
Through all of this, we have had communication from many of the third world, civil rights and socialist spokespersons, including the Soviet Union, Africa and others. They want us to present our case: what it means to stand up against and to the conspirators. THEY ARE LOOKING TO GUYANA TO TAKE A STAND IN THIS. They know that if the government here has remained strong, it will stop these conspirators before they really get started at what they intend to do.
One of the conspirator-agents was heard to say, We’re going to destroy Jones and that f____ing government.” “Those stupid leaders don’t know how to deal with us.”
Grace Stoen, the so-called mother of the child, John – who they have been trying to take away from us – along with her co-conspirators, stated: “… that Jim Jones would rather die than give up John. And stated that the attempt to get John was a way to get AT Jim Jones and the movement … that this was one way to trigger Jim Jones’ death, she knows. She went on to say she would rather
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John be DEAD than have him grow up a socialist in Guyana.
WE ONLY REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP THEM FROM PURSUING MATTERS OF CUSTODY, ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Every person we have here is here legally. We have guardianship on everyone where it is needed. We have had two come forward and tell us they had been offered money if they would revoke guardianship. Unfortunately, someone is likely to accept such an offer sooner or later.
They will not start the suits there if it cannot be consummated on this end!!! It could be stopped under the clear policy of a NON-ALIGNED GOVERNMENT ON A JURISDICTIONAL POINT OF LAW. This is all we ask because of the tremendous strain we are under.
Noticeably, all of the papers are attacking us along with Lt. Governor [Mervyn] Dymally of California who has spoken out for Caribbean socialism. But, we have the support of all the socialist press, the communist press and the black press who have been printing all of the details of the conspiracy and have spoken well of this country and backing up our right to exist. Of course the establishment press has not printed the full story of the conspiracy against us.
We want to continue to use our money to help you in your program to feed, clothe and house the nation – not put money into attorneys fees. We are sending for the best medical and agricultural equipment to serve, but we are now having to divert money off into attorney fees. We are handicapped by those idiots back in the states, putting us in a defensive posture and who obviously do not want us to build anywhere.
We have also heard from this agent (directly through our observers) that they will try kidnapping, abduction (and already some people are lurking around here), assassination or scare tactics of the first magnitude – as close as that bullet came to my head. They know that I won’t scare, though perhaps they were hoping for panic and fear in the constituency. However, that did not work either. WE ARE NOW BACK TO PREPARATIONS AND PLANTING OF THE LANDS, AND BUILDING.
The legal fees going out are funds that would be used constructively for and in Guyana – it seems a terrible waste.
THESE PEOPLE “CAN” BE STOPPED! I would like to see some good faith shown. There is no need to apologize for stopping these kinds of people. I can get all of the statements you need that these people are involved in the conspiracy. IF THEY DO NOT GET ANY ENCOURAGEMENT, THEY CAN BE STOPPED. Minister [Fred] Wills said that I would never have to come out of the bush to fight this custody case in court.
There will be no socialism without loyalty. I have to be loyal to all members of this constituency. That is why you can count on OUR LOYALTY TO THE COUNTRY; they would have to go over all of our bodies to invade the border of Guyana. I would rather go to fight in an area like Mozambique, but I’m willing to stay here and be what the people need me to be. I feel I don’t have any right to personal expectations when two out of three babies are going to bed hungry nightly. I wear only used close and have only one pair of shoes of my own: all of our money goes into the project and our people. The money going out in legal fees is desperately needed. Our project cannot endure this kind of expense. IF YOU WOULD ONLY DETERMINE THAT THESE CONSPIRATORS HAVE NO JURISDICTION, our legal fees would be stopped. As it is, the people, the project and Guyana end up paying.
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We had no illusions what we came to this country. We full well expected that sometimes someone might cross the border as it is a nonaligned socialist country (only socialist country on this continent) and after having seen what happened to Allende in Chile – our eyes were open. We have seen different things happen to socialist movements on this continent and we full well expected that these things could happen here – yet, we continued, knowing, and are willing to die for our beliefs. At the time there was rumor of CIA intervention and we know that we would be napalmed right out of the bush. We presented this to all of our people coming here, presented it in these very terms.
In order for us to survive and build, we need to get some businesses: a sawmill and other businesses on a cooperative basis. Not one of us has any urge to acquire any personal wealth, not one dime.
We are presently getting very conflicting input. Some are claiming to be officials who later proved not to be; one person tells us to go ahead, another tells us to stop. We are not sure who is the authority to listen to, and we are not sure that the authorities know what we are having to listen to … so, I will try to give you some background on what has been happening.
This was the course of events of this morning:
A gunshot was heard near our housing in a wooded area. Nothing was hit. We do not know who or what it was. We have a procedure now to gather our people somewhat in a circle, around the center of our compound to protect our children: we were told in the US that they intended to try kidnapping. We are loyally committed to protecting all of our people. You have only two shotguns in our camp, registered for hunting (and a rifle in the police compound awaiting registration). We do not want to resort to a military posture.
Now even if we knew the angle of the shooting – it would not define if it was to draw forth actions that could be observed, perhaps photographed … perhaps news people who want to take pictures to make it look embarrassing with all of our people alerted, gathering in a circle with two Guyanese walking up the drive, or what… It is a defensive posture and perhaps better called an observant posture to better look after our babies.
After the shooting, it seemed strange that two of our workers, men we are hiring, came down the road. This was strange because they always came through the back of our property where one of them lives, eight miles back – our driveway was a long way around, and he said he was coming from his home. This same person was allegedly involved in the raid on our property which involved the loss of THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
My son, Johnny Jones (one of my adopted black sons) was called on the phone by one of the officials up here while Johnny was in Port Kaituma. How the official knew where he was or how to get hold of him, I do not know! Anyway, he called and told Johnny that there was a gun seen in Johnny’s car (the official had seen it, he said), at our gate. Johnny said he had no gun here… He had no gun in his car, nor had he had one, and we don’t have any guns at our gates as we don’t keep an armed camp image. This official calling about a gun “just after” we have heard a gunshot through our property could have been coincidence … as we believe in synchronization where people can set up events by their own fears, although we are not afraid of anything … but still, it did seem strange. The official then said it must have been his eyes…
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The official then said it must have been his eyes…
Then this official said if we have guns past our road, he could prosecute us. He also said the road running down our farm does not belong to us anymore, and also that we cannot take a gun 50 feet from the road. We made a temporary compromise with this man and the conversation ended on a warm note. The last thing that was asked was to leave the gate open with someone at the gate 40 yards into the property to stop and ask who is entering even though we told him that the Commissioner of Police and our own legal counselors recommended we keep the gate closed. We said we were trying to comply with all regulations.
We are trying to have peace out here, but we need some assurances and we need to know how far this is going to go. We hate to trouble you and ask these questions, but we would and could be the best thing that ever happened to you because we WILL BE LOYAL.
With all of these problems I am reminded of a joking remark I once made that if there is an anthropomorphic deity, he must be a fascist.
We can endure this, but it is not the kind of situation that makes one feel the type of security we need. We were also told yesterday morning, “This place doesn’t belong to you, and you can’t block this road. People have the right to come up here anytime they want to.”
This official saying he saw a gun in our car is the second lie that’s been told on us. It does make us extremely uneasy with these kinds of lies. Another time, a policeman said he’d been turned away from the farm, which was a lie. This flight was told to another official in town, but this policeman has been friendly to us.
We don’t know if this is the CIA or some kind of agency maneuver or conspiracy. We were told by civil rights group activists last night and it was that group of conspirators that is doing all this to us now, and that low-level agencies in the US government are trying to do this now. We do not understand their intent. Are they trying to suck us into some kind of action with guns so they can photograph us? I can’t imagine what the value of it would be to see two shotguns. We do not aid [aim] our shotguns at anyone because we only use them for hunting. We recognize possibility of coincidence – but also, SETUPS can be arranged and we know it. Perhaps they would like to set me up so we would look organized in front of a reporter’s news camera. As Che [Guevara] once said, “Nothing like an invasion psychosis to reduce production.” This happened in Cuba one year – they reduced their production by 30%.
We have had skirmishes out here but avoid mentioning it. In our opinion, they would probably like us to report the hassles we have had out here as news of this getting to the states would discourage others from immigrating. So, we make no formal reports and try to keep down anything we do report. We certainly don’t report PR problems with people who come in the area, such as a car full of drunk people who came in on Sunday. We are not going to report this situation, nor of the shooting, either. We are tired of filling out reports and signing affidavits that accomplishes nothing. They investigated the last shooting incident and nothing came of it. We do not expect them to do miracles, but we do get tired of all this and it hinders our production.
MANY OF OUR PIGS WERE POISONED TODAY. Because of the quick work on our part of holding the pig’s jaws open and flushing them out, we lost only seven, and we were able to save 36. But of course you can understand these kinds of things make us a bit apprehensive.
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There was another situation that happened yesterday:
A man came in from another ministry office who said he represents even the regional minister who is here, and he tells us to take on all signs and move our gate 400 yards down the road. Now this is an aggravation of aggravations. This little petty bureaucracy: I feel for you and having to deal with these types of mentalities. “This is my department! This is my position! And, This is what I saw!” So we try to listen to all of these people – but they give us so many different signals that it is hard to listen to them all.
Then, this man takes people aside one-by-one, asking what kind of socialists we are? and where does our religion come in? and what are our marriage practices? These little upshot investigators do such a lousy job of it. They got one little boy off alone and asked him where he ate his food, and ask this, that, and all kinds of endless questions, which is all right because we have nothing to hide and the child gives good answers, and it makes one feel like we are living in an interrogation center all the time. Some of the other people with this man in his party were friendly, but none had any basic understanding of the principles by which you good socialists live by. Now that is the feeling one gets: that they have no understanding of what you are up against.
We had one person come in here saying he was an official, and another official came in and said that the first was not an official. This is enough to drive you up a wall, not to mention the shootings which are slightly unsettling. Another came in a government Land Rover and asked WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS GOVERNMENT IS A MORE RADICAL GOVERNMENT – WHEN IT IS TAKEN OVER by more radical people who want you people done away with (he acts like he almost knows that something is going to be done…) or thrown out of the country? What are you going to do about that? he asked. This is not security – having your pigs poisoned, etc., we are trying to work out some resolution.
Some made the statement that we might have to dismantle our group – this we could not do. Our people’s morale factor would be affected, and it would be foolish and stupid in terms of the loyalty we can provide, because we are further ahead in the teaching of basic socialist concepts. We don’t do that. There is no religion taught in our school at all. It is all pure basic socialist principle based on [Karl] Marx.
Anyway, it is every day someone coming in. Now we will take the sign down as reluctant as we are under the kinds of things that are happening to us, to help keep the peace for you. But, we would like to know who we should listen to. Different people tell us different things, and how long are we going to undergo little interrogations. I think we have proven ourselves.
People coming in here every day, at late hours, late evening – we always have casual drop-ins, so it is easily concluded that there is a very free society.
People who come around always ask about our marriages. I don’t know what is behind that. We have marriages, and we have 16 women presently having babies due in a short while. We have coupling arrangements for family units, but people keep asking us this insane question.
The question of liquor always comes up. We have a real load on us, so we just don’t have the money or the time. We give candy, parties, punch and some of the teas here. We have a talent night for entertainment. Later, I am sure we can make it available, but our budget just can’t take it. We are not religious bigots ding-donging drinking, and we do drink if we are out in the community for social intercourse so as not to be set apart from the rest of the community.
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We have no ridiculous rituals as it is easy to see by talking to anyone. We would like to know who is supposed to be doing this interrogation, and how many departments are supposed to be involved in this. Is every person who comes in here supposed to be allowed to go off with our children and ask them questions? It makes everybody apprehensive, not because we have anything to hide, but because we went through that type of harassment back in the states so much. We want to do what is right with these people for the sake of not causing you any difficulty, but we are so tired of interrogations and harassment.
We are not possessive about our land. We share our food. We have distributed thousands of pounds of rice and fish this weekend, and we get along wonderfully with our neighbors and have very good friendly relations. This one man who came in here was trying to say that our neighbors were objecting to us. We know better than this. The local residents like us. I will always be frank with them, and if they don’t like what I say, I will be quick to take their criticism.
You have a lot of petty, inter-party rivalry. I empathize for the leadership. This is a natural phenomenon in the process of historical change but it is just too bad that so much is happening at one time. Our people are producing, and it is a “model” out there. You would be proud of it: a model community of integration and productivity. You can send anybody out there anytime to see it.
There is a common understanding when anyone comes in here that they are supposed to get gas, whether they are on official business or not. And, when people come in here, we often come in on a ruse. When they come to the gate they will lie to the person at the gate, telling them that they are coming in to talk about getting some cattle or talk about what has been stolen. Then, when they get inside, they do not even talk about the subject they said they wanted to talk about. This makes our people very apprehensive, these kind of lies. We are not expecting special treatment. We are wanting just to be able to build. We know we have to extend courtesies the people because of the sensitivities of their little jobs (some of these people seem petty bourgeoisie) but we would like to know who gives official orders, and who are we to take those official orders from?
We are not wealthy people, and we are trying to get into the latest deal of the sawmill so that we can be even more productive. Our ideal is to produce for the whole Northwest Region, but this delay of having to meet people and show them through our farm endlessly is affecting our productivity.
One reason we can produce is because we have some structure. We had a couple of Guyanese living on our property, but they drank and did not want to work. One young woman who wants to come out to our farm is the daughter of a professional person and we have given an open invitation to her.
If people are not open to work ethics, we just cannot deal with them. We have good food and entertainment, plenty of time for leisure, but people are expected to put in a certain amount of work. We are very humane, and we believe in no physical fights or corporal punishment (we never even raise a switch to a child) so we have to be careful whom we take in. One impoverished couple was going to move onto our farm, but we found that the woman was keeping the man in booze, and this would have been very demoralizing for our people to have to deal with this situation. Our children are given incentives for good behavior and production such as extra desserts, etc.
We are certainly socializing with the local people here, we want to mix with the people. That is why we want some films sent in so we can show movies for the Port Kaituma. Amalgamation is in progress here. We are adopting Guyanese youngsters,
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and we have a Guyanese youngster [word deleted, “teenager” inserted]. One of our young people is dating a Guyanese. We have offered our facilities to a couple of other teenagers. Our community is made up of every race under the sun: Chinese, Korean, Indian, black, Jewish, Mexican and mongrels like me. You won’t have to worry about us amalgamating. We are on amalgamation.
We want our people firmly secure so that we can build our cooperative so people can venture onto other forms of living. But, when people come in here and want to take our major people right now, it makes it hard. One man came in and wanted to take all of our electrical people, but we cannot spare them as our own work is not done.
We have been asked by people who come out to our farm, “Do you use drugs?” Well, you can look through this place. Our facility is an open book and no one uses drugs. We have found that doctors in the states condition people too much to drugs, so unless it is a chronic condition, we try to get people away from these types of things. Until this battle of nerves with the assassination attempt, we had people on tranquilizers who were no longer requesting them. During that siege, we did have a couple wanting something for their nerves. But, we are not people who seek pills every time we have a headache. We do have a close medical scrutiny to see that a headache is not indicative of a stroke, but we are not people who rely on medications, because we know that it has caused a drug oriented youth culture in the US.
Right now, while we are writing this letter, we are having another visitor. They have come at mealtime, so they will get a nice meal. We bake bread and give some to most of our guests also. We don’t mind, but we are not a flush people. We don’t expect the government to do anything about it, but that is the way it is. Every meal we have guests. And we like guests if people would just drop in. But there are a few who get offended if you don’t drop everything to entertain them. However, we do not know what to think when people go around and say (interrogating) “Isn’t this more of an institution than the community?” We don’t know what they are driving at. We have the most personal warm relations, deeply personal between the people in our community. We have talent nights, shows, dances, etc. There could not be a greater sense of community here.
We have not fired any guns which we are licensed to use, and that is something when you are being shot at… From where I am sitting, it looked like some people were in the far left field looking at me through a TV camera with a long-range telescopic lens. We haven’t seen them for a couple of days, however, we were informed the press could be coming incognito for devious reasons. We have had people wandering in here and asking a lot of questions. We don’t know who these people are and some of them surely don’t sound like they are working for the government.
Right now when we are obviously the blunt end of a conspiracy, that we know Guyana is not responsible for, we have to have some security measures. These suckers are slipping in and we know that the almighty dollar can buy anybody, any place in the world. It has bought them in the greatest countries. We teach respect for Guyana, we teach the history, and we teach about socialism in our school with an in-depth study. Some of the people up here we have talked to about socialism don’t even know what we are talking about. We teach the principles but we don’t teach religion. We wanted to set up our school under the approved system of schools in Guyana, but a chap told us that we would have to give up our school even after the headmaster of the Port Kaituma government school said that they did not have enough to feed the students they have now. We also don’t feel that this would be a very good time for us to send any of our children out after overhearing the agents comments about kidnapping.
We are not wanting to burden this country and your people, and we certainly know that there was nothing more that we could do in the United States. We would have stayed
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if it could have been possible. Racism was destroying our children and was having horrid effects on all of us, and this is not to mention the outright violence being done to us. We saw that there was no climate for change there, being there is no strong socialist or communist movement or strong trade union movement. George Meany, who was a former apologist for the system (the president of the AFL-CIO) said that the industrialists have been pouring millions of dollars into the destruction of the labor movement. He feels some form of new Nazism or some type of similar movement like that is taking over the government. All of the US press have carried Meany’s statements.
We did what we could in the states and it was recognized. We pressed on in spite of the fact that we were alone. But the press began attacking, lies were being told [illegible word], but we still continued. Until finally the printed word about Guyana and our experiences with the black mayor – even the printed word was not acceptable. We were told by a high-ranking establishment editor in one of the prestigious Eastern newspapers that we had stepped on the big food [foot], and it was curtains for us, and he was afraid for us. We have been told over and over again, [illegible word] just yesterday, Hallinan, a leading popular lawyer, from one of the most powerful families in San Francisco, who always defends the working class: he sent word of encouragement; he said they are trying to get me to come back so they will have the bull in the ring where they can kill him. He said don’t come back. He said I make him look like a Saturday night socialist. We have hundreds of strong supporters and were aware of the factors when we came here. And I personally hand written letter, Vice President [Walter] Mondale’s wife complimented me on what we were doing in Guyana and in other countries. And Mondale told me in a private interview that he was going to do all he could for guaranteeing the Third World right to independent development and to put a muzzle on the CIA.
Of course we had considered going to other locations: we had invitations from other nations to go to so we would not have any future fear about survival. We chose to come to a country years ago, 9 years ago, when we first saw it…¬ and we chose to come here because of its socialistic government that was not racist.
It grows worse in the states – many civil rights leaders that we speak to into the dozens, are concerned that unless they reverse their course and BOW TO THE SPECIAL INTERESTS of the multinationals that anything can happen to any one or all of them. Particularly Dymally, who is bringing out a whole exposé of the conspiracy against us and 80 other prominent black officials in the United States.
I am concerned about the item Hass [Stoen attorney Jeffrey Haas] put in the paper that the Government was contemplating and studying whether or not to arrest me, based on this one custodial proceeding. I don’t think we have but a few families applicable, but all is legal. Haas announced in the right wing press in our Bay Area so that others could see it that the government is studying and contemplating my arrest? As usual the press never mentioned a word about John’s background; this is a part of the agreement; she [Grace Stoen] is not to be embarrassed and she will live for them if they need certain conditions from her…
About the shooting – We know none of the workers on the farm did the shooting; it was right after they came to work that the shooting started, coincidentally. All were accounted for. We don’t know, but some low level official capacity Guyanese possibly involved. We are tired of being involved in this; we would like to later be able to defend this country. We would like to have citizenship for our people and must think of more business structures to be involved in to help with financing. We will be glad when we don’t have to write you any more letters, and look forward to
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forward to visits from persons like yourself, that we know you are too busy – but this business is demanding and serves no purpose. We hate to be so much difficulty do you… It would be nice to have you see what we have done out here.
We have done wonderful work with agriculture, clothing, furniture making, some of the most superb furniture you would care to see, shoe repair – so much more but it would take too long to tell you. We have found wonderful use of orange rinds and making special types of jelly, green from sweet potatoes and cassava with vegetables like spinach as a valuable vitamin supplement, wonderful uses including medical wonders from papaya, so much more…
In concluding, it is our fervent hope you will do something about the custody cases as soon as possible. I think they will judge the strength of this government by the action that is taken in this. We want Guyanese citizenship here for our people, and want to be prepared to defend our borders. We are in need of more hunting guns and licenses both for shotguns and rifles. You know that our loyalty to you is staunch and can be depended upon. You consider our loyalty every day as we defend each other.
You can afford to give us the simple guarantees of peace because we pledge our loyal support in whatever you must do to maintain this present and precious socialist society.
Affectionately yours,
Jim Jones
Copies to: Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Wills
P.S. As I was concluding this letter, I just received a telephone call from California informing me that a liberal and popular California newspaper in Berkeley just came out on our behalf exposing the conspiracy and naming a new public relations firm and another newspaper editor as being involved along with others we have named to you in the conspiracy. We will provide them with the information as we get it with the articles in the mail.
Dr. Reid PPS only
We are ready to make another trip to the Bacchus sawmill and take care of the matter as you requested. Please advise.
PPS to Burnham and Reid only
We were again approached by a man wishing to make an exchange. We asked him to put it in writing.
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Honourable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Memorandum from: Jim Jones
Forgive me, but the enclosed should have been included in the letter sent you in order to give you a little more background on the conspiracy referred to.
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“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, September 27, 1977
[Editor’s note: Although there is a space for Jim Jones’ signature at the end, this letter was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff, likely Sharon Amos.]
COPY FOR PAULA
Bishop Jim Jones
Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission
P.O. Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana
27 September 1977
Honorable Forbes Burnham, Prime Minister
Parliamentary Building
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
We are sorry to bring to your attention another matter: Several Guyanese who are friends in the Port Kaituma area have told us that there are rumors around the area that someone in a vehicle ran over a man and left him lying hurt. The rumor states that “it must be the Yankees, because they are the only ones working that late.” Several Guyanese who are our friends have told us that the police from Matthews Ridge threatened to come in and arrest our (innocent) tractor drivers. One policeman’s name, Inspector Benjamin, keeps coming up. We caught him in a lie once about our project. He is the one that is doing the investigation on the tractor incident (we have heard.)
We have checked with all of the tractor drivers although only one driver was out that night – though he was not alone – and he swears adamantly and is willing to take a polygraph test that he did not hit anyone. We asked him if he had dozed and could have hit someone, or if it were misty and he could have hit someone and not seen them. He did not even recall any bugs that were unusual and could see all the way with his lights. The witnesses with him say the same thing. He came to tears about the matter and said he absolutely hit no one. Others with him also confirmed it. We interrogated him thoroughly, giving him every out – we told him there would be no problem if he did it and did not know it… he still swore, as did the others with him, that it was impossible for him not to have known. He hit no one. We know our people and we are certain that he did not do it.
We have not been approached by Inspector Benjamin at all, yet he made a direct accusation about us to this man’s wife, as she said she was TOLD by Inspector Benjamin that “it had to be Yankees.” We have witnesses including the young person that drove the tractor that indeed another tractor “was” seen by them outside of the Palm Springs Cavern – we are not certain of the exact time, but there were other witnesses too that were on the tractor with him that saw this. It was NOT OUR TRACTOR… If indeed it was a tractor that did this… and the tractor our people saw at the location out near Palm Springs Cavern was NOT a Yankee tractor!
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Fortunately, we have a lot of local good will, but we do not trust this man to come in and we could not tolerate a MASS ARREST of all of our tractor drivers as he is reported to have threatened. This would appear spineless to our community in view of all of the harassment we have received in the past. We have never faced such rumors in the community in the past.
It must now be receiving local petty bureaucratic sanction for such to transpire. One of the newest rumors is that we BURY CHILDREN ALIVE – yet NO CHILDREN could be better cared for, nourished or loved. The best nursery and school one could find anywhere is in Jonestown, We have never even spanked a child, ever. It sounds like a re-run of the conspiracy!
It is odd that our neighbors have not warned us of this kind of thing in the past; as we distribute food in the community – throughout – many told us these same lies. In spite of this, some have asked to join our cooperative. We will gladly receive them as long as they will abide by the minimal rules we maintain for our structure which is absolutely necessary in order to help the development of the Northwest Project.
We have Guyanese living on our project – and if there were ANYTHING inappropriate, they would report it to their families whom they visit weekly.
A very important aspect to be considered is that we have an especially good business acumen with a totally socialist perspective where all profits would be recycled into the economy via the socialist cooperatives. The kinds of rumors we are being hit with HAMPERS ME in my work, and the other talented ones among us who end up expending their energies working out these community problems rather than working for socialism.
Our people have expended a tremendous amount of energy dealing with the many aspects of conspiracy stateside, which has even reached down here (i.e. the many THOUSANDS of dollars expended by Mrs. Stoen’s attorneys). Locally, these things have had their affect on our productivity and it has undoubtedly been their aim to TOTALLY DESTROY OUR PRODUCTIVITY. We are still doing a reasonably good job, but it is much less than maximum performance in view of the intense harrassment, assassination attempts, poisoning of a major sector of our pigs, etc.
WE URGE that any investigation on the issue of the tractor come from the TRUSTED LEADERS IN THE CABINET who KNOW how socialism is brought about – as they have demonstrated in the battle with the colonialists in the past, and who know how socialism is blocked.
We hate to bother you, but we have no place to go. Too many local officials who have even been critical of the government seem disinclined to even discuss socialism. This causes us increasing apprehension. We know that in the transition stage of a newly emerging socialism, the government has to tolerate a petite bourgeoisie for economic considerations. However, we would like any OFFICIAL ENQUIRIES to be done through you so as to avoid this petite bourgeoisie mentality which is so counter productive to socialism.
We are truly sorry to bother you and will be thankful when the last letter goes across your desk. As you are probably already aware, people who know better constantly violate laws which we summarily refuse to do. We would never mention
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these criticisms to anyone outside of our cooperative. We also do not mention this to those outside the cooperative unless they have been approached by someone outside with some clandestine offers.
One chap sent to us by the government, Comrade Beckels, seemed to have a dedicated and insightful awareness of SOCIALIST PRACTICE. If there are those kinds of people who could be sent, we appreciate that kind of socialistic dedication. We in no way mean to be presumptious, but we do feel that we can be a definite asset to the goals of this country. Our experience as specialists in a capitalist country has equipped us with certain Insights in implementing socialism which we would like to contribute to the socialist progress – the GREAT SOCIALIST PROGRESS you have been achieving here.
We would like you to know how deeply grateful we were last night for the GDF plane that flew into the Port Kaituma air strip to pick up one of our young men who had a very serious spinal injury when a piece of equipment broke and fell on him. The pilot, Michael Chan-a-sue, was ready within the hour after being called about the emergency (to fly the plane up). Since there were no lights on the Port Kaituma air strip, our people made torches all up and down the strip to light it, much to the amazement I heard of even the pilot – it was so well done. The pilot was extremely courteous and sensitive to the seriousness of the young man’s condition, and thus he was most careful not to jar or bump him in any way, as the young man was paralyzed for several hours from the waist up. Amazingly enough, the young man seems to have regained full use of his facilities, and is now in a Georgetown hospital.
Because of the seriousness of this emergency and the fact that our own doctor felt that if we didn’t get this young man to a hospital as soon as possible he could have lost all feeling in his body, we did not think about asking permission for the plane to land up there. After it landed, a local constable came up and made it known that he was extremely disturbed that we had not consulted him about the whole matter, even though we had no idea that we were supposed to contact anyone. We would deeply appreciate knowing from you which bureaucrats we are supposed to contact in this sort of an emergency.
You have my greatest respect and loyalty because of your commitment to socialism and Guyana. You can count on us to the very last, as we will never let you down.
Affectionately yours,
JIM JONES
Copies to: Dr. Ptolemy Reid, Deputy Prime Minister Minister
Minister Fred Wills
Minister Vibert Mingo
P.S. In addition to our normal attorney that we retain, and to the new attorney whom we have hired for the custody case, we were advised to sew up some of the better attorneys regarding the custody issue, and therefore we retained another attorney. However, this attorney asked us for U.S. $1,500. Of course we meticulously abide by the law and of course never even considered the proposition, but we did want to post you concerning the matter.
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D-2-C-16A
“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, September 30, 1977
[Editor’s note: Although there is a space for Jim Jones’ signature at the end, this letter was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff, likely Sharon Amos.]
Bishop Jim Jones
Peoples Temple Agricultural Project
P.O Box 893
Georgetown
Republic of Guyana
30 September, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Parliamentary Building
Georgetown
Republic of Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
A number of alleged officially sanctioned events have taken place recently which have given us no end of concern. We are realistic socialists and know that the almighty dollar has a way of reaching into the pockets of bureaucrats who have no commitment to the principles of socialism, however, we feel it imperative that you are informed of such events. There is a definite correlation of the local bureaucratic harassment with the documented conspiracy in the United States.
A right-wing media person in the U.S. named Jim Clancey [Clancy] said he was going to get something on us through his contacts with the immigration and customs department. Because of a sudden and drastic change in the attitudes of people in these areas we wonder if the conspiracy has not reached that stage.
Recently, newly arrived Peoples Temple immigrants have been singled out at the airport – them alone – for customs inspection by a procedure of removal of every single item in their luggage for a very thorough inspection. Now if this were a new policy and everyone was going through this very same procedure, we would have no problems with it. However, the last two times our people have come in from the States, they have been pulled aside and made to wait until all of the other passengers had gone through customs. Tuesday night we only had four people fly in. Their plane arrived at 11:30 P.M., yet they didn’t arrive home until after 4:00 A.M. because they were detained and so thoroughly searched. None of the other arriving passengers were treated in this manner.
We have an outline of the steps the conspiracy will be taking to destroy the Peoples Temple. The stage of the contingency plan they would effect if they could not get us into any legal frame-up in the United States would be for Jim Clancey to use his contacts within immigration and customs in Guyana (among other connections in Guyana he has) to get us into difficulty. We were told also by the States that money has passed in the courts here.
We thought nothing at the time of Jim Clancey’s bragging to Pat Richartz, a noted investigator and civil rights worker, when she told us about the plans. Miss Richartz is very friendly to us and she got close enough to Clancey that she heard directly CLANCEY’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONSPIRACY FROM THE BEGINNING AND THAT HE IS WORKING WITH A VERY WEALTHY MAN NAMED [George] KLINEMAN WHO HAS NAZI CONNECTIONS. CLANCEY ALSO HAS INFLUENCE WITH INTERPOL WHICH IS AN INTERESTING CONNECTION.
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This information is coupled with the fact that another man named David Conn, who works for Standard Oil Company and admits to being an agent for the Treasury Department tried to bribe American Indian Movement leader, Dennis Banks, into denouncing me and my church. When Conn thought Banks was going to cooperate with them (as Banks acted like he would through the first meeting in order to obtain information as to what they were conspiring to do and thus get witnesses to document what Conn was saying) he gave the identical outline of the conspiracy but before he got details of the campaign in Guyana, he told Conn he wouldn’t have any part of it because he couldn’t stomach anymore of Conn’s racist vendetta.
Another person involved in trying to move the conspiracy into Guyana borders is a man by the name of Joseph Mazor, a private investigator we wrote to you about before. Mazor has a criminal record which spans ten years covering such illegal acts as forgery, fraud, impersonating an attorney, parole violations, etc. with a supplementary mental instability record.
We were reminded from the U.S. that the attempt to get us in trouble here would come in two separate directions with customs and immigration. Pat Richartz warned us that they might be planting drugs on us. It is anti-socialist to use drugs and we don’t touch them. Customs can go through our luggage with a fine tooth comb, if they do it to everyone else, as we have nothing to hide. However, WE DON’T WANT ANYONE PLANTING ANYTHING ON US. This is an old practice by certain U.S. agencies, and therefore WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE AT CUSTOMS WHO IS A SOCIALIST TO MAKE SURE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS THAT WE ARE NOT SET-UP. We’ve had 25 years of this harassment.
Some devisive efforts were made to come between our U.S. Temple attorney, who is also a member, and us when he arrived back in Georgetown from the States. We’ve had a perfect relationship for years but there was a suggestion we were divided which we are not. Our attorney went out of the country to get avocado pear cuttings and check into some matters for the church. He is at Jonestown now. But, two men visited him at his hotel when he was in Georgetown – one man was from immigration and one man was from customs, surnamed Thom and George. They asked our attorney what his relationship was to Peoples Temple, and their line of questioning was extremely peculiar. He felt they were directly attempting to sew [sow] division between him and our church. He asked them to call our Temple secretary in Georgetown and gave them the telephone number in order to get their questions answered since the secretary here is my confidential secretary and has been living in Guyana for four years now. However, they never did call her.
A reputable Chicago newspaper has recently done an investigation into the numerous cases of journalists who are either CIA fronts or work in liason with the CIA in exchange for information to write articles on. The Chicago investigation said that noteables Included well regarded newspapers and journals such as Time, Newsweek, New York Times, and many others. Also included in their listings were television news medias. If one had any doubts about the conspiracy, the noticeable fact that the smear articles have only come out in parts of the world which have a large concentration of Guyanese who would send their relatives clippings, i.e. Toronto, New York, London, and Trinidad. Hardly anywhere else in the entire United States and nowhere else in England or Canada carried these lies.
Because of the large number of events which have occurred within the past couple of weeks, we would appreciate any word of encouragement that you can give us that these matters are being looked into. We would like the MATTER AT THE AIRPORT REMEDIED, INCLUDING OTHER MATTERS WHICH WE HAVE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION OF
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LATE THAT WE HAVE HEARD NO RESPONSE TO YET, TRUST IS IMPORTANT IN BUILDING, BE UP FRONT WITH US AS WE ARE WITH YOU, WHY ALL THESE NEW AND SUDDEN CHANGES??? We don’t believe they are representative of any new policy, but the conspiracy is moving into certain departments in Guyana just as we were told would happen, and we would like to know these matters are being looked into. We hold you in very high regard and pledge our loyalty to you and Guyana. We will not disappoint you.
Sincerely,
JIM JONES
Copies to: Honorable Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Honorable Minister Fred Wills
Honorable Minister Vibert Mingo
P.S. I was informed last night that seven (7) men from out of state went to Miami where our shipment was waiting to come dawn to Guyana. They took crates apart checking our inventory with the contents (which matched perfectly.) We are getting affidavits that confirm this incident occurred at the shipping company called SOPAC. The shipment is now on the Fernandes wharf here in Georgetown and we want you to be aware of this matter. The shipping company only told our U.S. church about this incident within the last couple of days, and with all the strange events happening, we are aware of the possibilities of something being planted on us. The shipment has not had an examination yet, thus we are grateful to have gotten this information now.
A rather disturbing situation has come to my attention which is just the sort of thing that creates tension. The Padmore who came to our farm to do what only seemed to be to photograph a mound of dirt in front of an empty garbage pit submitted a report which states we couldn’t be up there farming therefore, he recommended the police look over the farm carefully for opium. This man wouldn’t even look at the farm and then submitted this ludicrous report. It is no wonder they feel they should do some sort of an investigation when they hear this kind of report, however, we would like for you to get this thing resolved about the kind of character we have so there can be an end to this.
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D-2-C-13
“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, October 3, 1977
[Editor’s note: Although there is a space for Jim Jones’ signature at the end, this letter was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff, likely Sharon Amos.]
[Notation at top of page] Paula’s copy
Bishop Jim Jones
Peoples Temple Agricultural Project
P.O. Box 393
Georgetown
Republic of Guyana
3 October, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Parliamentary Building
Georgetown
Republic of Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
We of Peoples Temple Agricultural Project have felt the best way to help Guyana at this time is to build a model agricultural community and determine techniques to use to grow crops. We have not reached self-sufficiency because of a sudden recent influx of people, an influx we had not anticipated would happen at such a stepped up rate. It was necessary because of a conspiracy directed against our socialist organization. This conspiracy has been widely exposed in the press and we are continuing our own investigation. Since the exposure of the conspiracy, there has been no [illegible word] press, and as [illegible word] self sufficient our technicians and consultants will gladly be available to the entire country.
Sincerely, Jim Jones
cc: Cabinet
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Paula’s Copy
Jones: Burnham
3 October, 1977
NOTE:
(Accidentally omitted part of the letter.)
Tonight a medical emergency came up that we were asked to relay on our amateur radio for the entire medical society of Caracas, Venezuela. They were in immediate and desperate need of heart medication called intropine. Therefore, I asked our attorney, Charles Garry, who is presently in San Francisco over the international radio to call the different hospitals in an attempt to locate this life and death medicine.
This is the sort of thing that we are involved in daily over the amateur radio and we have often helped Venezuela in cases of medical emergency or to relay information of a medical nature.
JJ
P.S. The medical society in Caracas operated under the call sign YV5AXU, with intermediate relaying assistance given from VP5SI when transmission became weak.
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Unsigned list of letter attachments to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, October 8, 1977
8 October, 1977
The Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Submitted for your perusal are the following:
1) Letter to Ministry of Education
2) Peoples Temple school curriculum outline
3) News article from New York Times News Service regarding Jim Jones
4) News article from the Chicago Daily News regarding the involvement of the CIA in the American media.
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D-2-C-10
Jim Jones Letter to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, October 1977
[Editor’s note: Although there is a space for Jim Jones’ signature at the end, this letter was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff, likely Sharon Amos.]
[Handwritten notation at top of page: “Paula’s copy”]
11 October, 1977
The Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Parliamentary Building
Georgetown
Guyana, S.A.
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
We want to appraise you of the information that a man involved in the conspiracy, Joseph Mazor, who has a 75 page criminal record which can be provided for you if you wish, is coming down with an airplane of our member’s relatives to take members of the Peoples Temple back to the United States against their will. The real purpose is to create a huge publicity stunt to add yet another chapter to their orchestrated smear campaign which is being directed by a hired professional public relations firm against our socialist movement. We have proof that the articles in the news media in the United States were planned 8 months in advance and therefore, nothing is to rule out that this staged stunt is not without the same advanced planning.
It would be a very grave mistake to allow this admitted racist or any group associated with him to come to Guyana. Activists in the U.S. WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND ANY TOLERANCE ON EITHER THE PART OF GUYANA OR US IN ALLOWING THIS FASCIST TO COME HERE. They also have warned that there are people here who would even assist the conspirators in the U.S. I have always resented that, but there are still some who feel this way.
We have had many guests over the past years and it could always be seen and can now be also that our members are happy to be living in a socialist country free from racial bigotry. This December relatives of members of the cooperative farming project are in on their own to see their loved ones. We have asked them to wait until December because we do not have adequate accommodation to take in guests presently. Included amongst those who are planning a December visit is a Methodist Bishop.
We have utilized a great deal of influence among the religious community and the socialist and communist parties in the U.S. in an attempt to negate any attempt by either the Catholic Standard or the Mirror to utilize us in an effort to embarrass the government. We have considerable influence with people from many spectrums in the U.S.
Lt. Governor [Mervyn] Dymally, being my personal friend, told me that Ambassador Laurence Mann had contacted him and had, in the course of the conversation, stated that the Guyana government is giving unqualified support to the Peoples Temple. Therefore, we do not understand what was meant by a comment made that Cabinet will be dealing with each allegation as it comes up about our organization. There is no end to allegations by conspirators, so what could this mean?
One thing which makes it difficult is that some ministers of the Cabinet said that the custody situation with my son, John Stoen, should have been handled quickly as a political solution and NOT through the long drawn out process of Guyana courts. They said, as did friends of ours up north, that it is clearly a political question and should be treated as such.
We are plagued by what she called the “invasion psychosis” which implies full productivity. Therefore, if some security could be given, it would make for a greater contribution, even though the contributions made thus far could be held up as a model.
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Incidentally, we have used our amateur radios to spread goodwill for Guyana; even with our Venezuelan neighbors. A child in Caracas was in a coma and needed a very rare medication called “intropin” which was unavailable in Venezuela. The entire Caracas Medical Society put out an international plea for assistance. We telephoned for several hours all over the United States and finally located it. We made the necessary arrangements and at 1 a.m. an official from the Venezuelan Embassy, Maria Chavez, had the medication put on an aircraft destined for Caracas. A friendship has opened and the Venezuelan Embassy has expressed sincere gratitude to us; however, we explained that it was only possible because the Guyana government gave us the privilege of using the ham radioes.
We need to know where we stand regarding the several matters which relate to the conspiracy mentioned in this letter and previous letters. I cannot stress enough the critical effect that [Joe] Mazor and anyone associated with him will have on Guyana if they are allowed to come. IT WILL BE A MAJOR PUBLICITY STUNT BEYOND ANYTHING IMAGINABLE. They have spent over [illegible number] million dollars in publicity campaigns alone to discredit us, to give you an idea of the kind of money we are talking about behind this. The case of my son’s custody battle in Guyana has been used in a U.S. newspaper to describe Guyana as a steamy jungle unfit for raising a child. They will continue to conspire if Guyana does nothing perhaps in a feeble effort: to give the world an image of the government of Guyana being too weak to intervene (because they know that what happens to us has become significant internationally in the Socialist and Third World nations) and to attack our organization.
He will continue to produce in the manner we have set forward. We wish only to serve Guyana and give our loyalty to you and the leadership you have chosen as we have committed ourselves to this socialist thrust. I send my very high esteem and very personal regards and will be awaiting a response.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Jones
Copies to: Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Minister Fred Wills
Minister Vibert Mingo
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D-2-c-9a
Unsigned letter to Forbes Burnham, October 19, 1977
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears numerous places on the site, including as D-1-M-11 (5) – 11(9) at https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=129815. The copy of the letter in this pdf file was missing page 2, but the text is reproduced below.]
[Handwritten notation at top of page: “Paula’s copy”]
PO Box 893
Georgetown, Guyana SA
October 19, 1977
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Buildings
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
Staff members of our agricultural project met with Regional Minister [Fitz] Carmichael in Matthews Ridge on Monday, October 17th. Many things went well with Minister Carmichael and Mr. [W.D.] Wyatt. They praised the discipline and success of our agricultural project. However, I have found it necessary to write to you because of a series of demands that were made upon us without serious consideration being given to the difficulties and hampering effect that they would cause our program, as well as to the specific conditions that have contributed to our success, which such demands would jeopardize.
One demand was made that our students attend government schools on a permanent, live-in basis. For them to do so at this time is a grave mistake, and would be intolerable to our families for two basic reasons. First, there exists the threat of kidnapping and too many types of harassment to go into now, originating from Stateside efforts to decimate our organization. Also, our project’s success depends upon students being involved daily in our own work/study program. We presently grow enough to eat, but until we produce enough to sustain us, we cannot spare our teenage students. Our teenagers, furthermore, have said that nothing worked for them until they came here and found a sense of community security from living on our farm community. Please give us a year, at least, to produce in peace, and your administration will never regret it. We were promised that we could have our own school. This was a very critical consideration in our decision to immigrate. All of our Peoples Temple immigrants are not even here; therefore, some parents who sent their children ahead to get them out of a racist environment and who are in the process of coming, did not have much time with their children because they were sent ahead. An alternative direction might be to bring other children into our school on the project.
Another matter which would greatly hinder the productivity of our farm would be to give “specialized supervision” to some 15 or 20 “live-in” Kaituma residents. The idea of having Guyanese workers with us is desirable (we now employing a Guyanese crew), but we do not yet have the available staff to give “specialized supervision” nor do we presently have available housing. We cannot, at this time feasibly house extra people because we can hardly keep up with the needs of our farm community. In time, we will gladly extend our building potential to other Guyanese, other than ourselves, as much as funds will allow.
Although we found many points that the Regional Minister
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made to be most acceptable and constructive to our party, we would greatly appreciate it if you could please explain to the Regional representatives that it is a serious error to insist on the aforementioned points at this time, during the very formative stages of our project’s development.
At the meeting we offered to the Region the services of our agriculturalists (which they were desirous of having), our boat, our equipment, our workers, our physician, and other medical personnel for regular hours in the district to serve the community. We made many other overtures, including monetary donations to the PNC. However, there did not seem to be as much interest in these proposals as there was in our schools. This could be my subjective judgment based on the report of associates, but it is unfortunate that this concern has been so prematurely advanced. We have many highly qualified teachers and school administrators who could be useful in preparing students who might later require foreign training with a special perspective. If, after a reasonable period of adjustment, so our students began attending government schools, then, as was also previously agreed, we would like our teachers to be afforded the opportunity of serving in those schools.
One person referred to us as being “isolationists.” This shows absolutely no knowledge of us or a willingness to learn. We have Guyanese living on our project, and only regret that under the conditions of our present development, we cannot have more so that our project could be fully co-operative. There is actually no need for anyone to have a concern that we are “secretive” or a “closed” society. We have visits from many good neighbors every day. Comparing us to the colonial owners because of our gate was indeed painful to our members who have suffered at the hands of racists. The implication is ridiculous. Besides having Guyanese comrades live on the farm, assimilation is being accomplished through adoption, dating, and marriage.
We are distressed by an apparent inability we have noted to relate to the hellish conspiracy we have been subjected to because our activist, socialistic philosophy and practice. There has also been a similar lack of ability or desire to relate to what blacks and interracial groups are having to endure in the States. The regional ministry representatives did not even respond with empathy, I am told, to documented reports of character assassination in the press and legal harassment of black elected officials in the US. These documented facts were recently compiled and disclosed by California Lt. Governor Mervyn Dymally, and Lt. Governor Brown of Colorado (both who have been viciously victimized) in a recently issued, extensive report, The Dilemma Of Black Politics. Over two hundred persons from the US news media were invited to a press conference in Washington held at the release of this report. Only twelve reporters attended, and eleven of them were openly hostile, and covered the conference in a disdainful, perfunctory fashion. Please emphasize to people here that these things really do go on, and that our current harassment as part of the picture.
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We understand through reliable sources that the orders for arrest are still out for myself and my son [John Victor Stoen]. Although we were made to understand that they had been cancelled, now to go into Georgetown to take care of anything, including our weekly radio broadcast. Leaders and activist friends of all shades in the US have recommended the same. It is very hard for us to explain to them why we are even going through this process of resolution.
Our local Guyanese counsel and other governmental officials also advised us that there is apparent danger of kidnapping. This is coupled with the information we have received from our “listening post” of people in the US who are most sympathetic to interracial programs and pacifistic socialism. These people, which even included individuals in law enforcement, advised us not to take these threats of kidnapping lightly. Joseph Mazor, a man with an extensive criminal record running to 75 pages, who has taken a central role in the efforts against us, avowed to our contacts (who he does not know are actually friendly toward us) that they will “kidnap” some of our youngsters, if necessary. This has happened to other groups in the US as part of a move to discredit them. If anyone were kidnapped, we do not doubt that the full processes of the State would come into play, but it is a little late when someone is coming across the border and returning back. By that time, the person abducted would already be out of their jurisdiction, a state of affairs that our people could not countenance. Because of the inroads we have made into such nefarious schemes, we know what they are up to, and therefore, we are more than a little concerned about sending our children away from the farm at this time.
We have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the government of Guyana. This is why I feel it is my duty to report that our people interpret the fact that we have not been given assurance at any level that Joseph Mazor will not be tolerated entering this country with known anti-socialist relatives collaborating and a scheme to forcefully take away young people from our cooperative, as a breach of this trust. Mazor is a well-known reactionary. His aforementioned long criminal record includes a probation report that labeled him as being mentally unstable. None of the wide spectrum of supporters we have in the US can understand why anybody would allow a person like him access to this country. He has been actually bragging all over that he has guarantees from the Guyana government that relatives will be turned over whether they want to go or not. We can do nothing about sending our children out to the schools of Guyana until this amalgam racist, who investigators from various law enforcement agencies can actually prove is connected with the Mafia underworld hierarchy, is assuredly turned away from entering Guyana. This, and other assurances which we have previously discussed (i.e., that my son not be taken from me) must be worked out first.
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A delegation from the Caribbean Conference of Churches of more than a dozen persons from around the Caribbean as asked to spend a weekend at our farm during the course of their upcoming November conference. Unless there is some objection from the government, we will be happy to accommodate them even though we are a little concerned about some of these delegations, since they could easily provide cover for a provocateur. We have already had one attempted assassination, imposters, larceny, and illegal court orders, to name only a few areas of harassment. The farm and community project will speak well of Guyana, of socialism, of humanism, and for the Christian New Testament concept of brotherhood and equalitarian, apostolic living.
Superintendent Brown of Mabaruma will be registering all of our members under the Aliens and Registration Act, Section 14:03, which states that all aliens must report to the immigration office for district registration. Supt. Brown stated that he was not even aware that it had to be done until he was in Georgetown last month when it was called to his attention. It does not help to ease our paranoia that we were not informed of this, especially after hearing very directly that a Mr. Jim Clancy, one of the conspirators working in the US news media to undermine our church, was boasting that immigration would be one of the two areas he could get us harassed by, through the contacts he has in Guyana. Customs, which is the other area Clancy claimed he would trouble us with, only recently started singling out Peoples Temple members for very thorough “routine checks” which have not always been done on an equitable basis. It would appear, then, that Mr. Clancy perhaps does have some knowledge of what he is talking about in these areas.
There is also apparent hesitation in permitting our people to vote. Just as we do not wish to make any particular issue about voting, so do request that no issues be made about our schools. While we are expected by some to comply with every rule to the extreme degree, it yet appears that we are not able to enjoy first-class citizenship as voters, fully participating in the civic life of the nation. Our need to be accepted would be overridden to a great extent by being allowed to join the present administration and to vote, plus to be given assurances that we will not have to endure individuals like Mr. Mazor. This would help greatly to ease our minds. We have made a donation to the party and have gone out of our way to be conciliatory. However, the subsequent requests that I have outlined above demonstrate a lack of awareness of our productive capacity at this point. We are more loyal to the government by lengths than many officials we have met. This is unfortunate, but they convicted themselves out of their own mouths.
We are somewhat apprehensive about the erosion of trust. One specific example of what can cause trust to break down concerns the recent assassination attempt upon me. Though I was not personally present when the bullet hole in the wall was inspected, there has never been any mention about me citing any papers or reports.
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I find this most odd that no one, not even the witnesses, were asked to sign a report (although they did accept the witnesses reports that were submitted).
I want to say that I have the utmost confidence that all of these matters can be satisfactorily resolved, for the best interests of both our community and the nation.
I [several struck-out words] to thank you for the brilliant speech you recently made for the emancipation of women. Since Soviet Russia has not solved this problem in sixty years, nor the Chinese in 30, nor Cuba in nearly 20, it is indeed impressive that you are setting these ideals forward and encouraging strides to be made.
Please know that our loyalty to Guyana is complete. (I’m almost tempted to quote the old adage that “if you’ve got something working for you… leave it alone!”). We can and will produce for Guyana. This is our aim – to serve. You will not be disappointed by the faith you have shown us in the past, and we pledge to make good that faith in coming days and months.
Let me close by apologizing for the length of this letter. I know you are a busy person, when I felt it necessary to share these concerns with you at this critical period.
Our best wishes for productive visit to Canada.
Sincerely yours,
P.S. Two items. Another recent incident that created some paranoia occurred when the Regional representative wanted assurances from us that we would not tape record the meeting with Mr. Carmichael. Taping has never been done except on request of the official of the Guyana government to confirm matters. This was known by the official involved. If you did at one time explain something about tape-recording, please clarify what context. We have neither the time, funds or desire to go around tape-recording. We have no inclination to invade privacy.
Secondly, a former member of Peoples Temple, a Mr. Christopher Lewis, in our opinion is undesirable as an immigrant into Guyana. He was at one time active in civil rights, but has left our group and has gotten involved in some things we cannot condone. We recently visited his lovely little daughter at the farm; however, we only tolerated his presence because she would have had no future if we did not allow him to visit her.
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“Jim Jones” letter to Forbes Burnham, November 29, 1977
[Editor’s note: This letter appears numerous places on the site, including at BB-17-ss-1 – ss-4 on https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=127357.
[Although there is a space for Jim Jones’ signature at the end, it was likely composed for his review by a member of the Georgetown staff, likely Sharon Amos.]
SENT TO: [Ptolemy] Reid, [Vibert] Mingo, [Fred] Wills, [Forbes] Burnham
Nov. 29, 1977
Dear Cde. Wills;
In an effort to improve the course for integration of our organization into the Guyanese stream of living, we wish to beg a few moments of your time to keep you abreast of developments and select matters which are felt to affect us both.
HARASSMENT:
In a letter to you dated November 15, the topic, “Examples of harassment” did not give the background required an understanding just how situations like that were able to develop. The location of the incidence of the arrest frame-ups of myself and my son, Lew Eric (who has a new son born in Guyana) was Los Angeles which is notorious for a fascist and racist police force. The late Cde. Claude Worrell (who was a courageous warrior against political repression and a great friend) was versed in the tactics of the Los Angeles Police force and mentioned to me the times when frame-ups were also attempted on him: a young woman he was seeing was approached by the LA police and offered a bribe to claim that Claude had raped her – enough of a charge to disbar him from ever practicing law again. Another time they tried to get a friend of his, who was a deputy sheriff, to lie on him. When the sheriff refused he was demoted and taken off of active duty. Claudia confided to me the frustration of living in a racist legal system knowing that it was hopeless and receiving a fair trial for his clients. He felt a great pride in giving his life to Guyana and to a leadership which is working for socialist economic justice.
A book which gives a great background to the operations of the LA police it is called the Glass House Tapes, written by Louis Tackwood, a black man who had worked for the LA police as a paid informer. He was later stricken by his conscience and told what he knew of the goings-on within the “Glasshouse” (as the political section of the police department was called). He told of the coordinated effort of the LAPD with the CIA. In fact, it was Claude Worrell who first put Tackwood on the witness stand about the role he played as both informer and provocateur. (If you should wish to read this book, I’ll gladly provide it).
Several years ago before either of the arrest frame-ups mentioned occurred, there were simultaneous attacks on different black groups on the same Sunday morning. We were not excepted. An apparent “set up” was made by the LA police force, although to this day we don’t know the full background. Just outside our church some white ambulance attendants were trying to force an older black woman into an ambulance. She had evidently suffered a slight sunstroke, but had completely recovered and stated she did not wish to get in. The ambulance attendants started calling her “nigger bitch” and tried to shove her into the ambulance. We heard the commotion and went to her rescue. Evidently they radioed for help, although I don’t know when they found time, because within minutes an LA “riot” squad was there beating our people, women, and children over the heads with circled overhead. I kept most of my people indoors because we were, and are pacifists and did not want a scene like that which ensued through no provocation of ours. The outcome was the arrest of my wife, my oldest adopted son, Johnny (who is here with his wife and daughter), another married man who has a wife and son here, Michael Prokes, and another black male member, C. J. Jackson. None of them had ever been arrested before and were only taken in after trying to stop the ambulance attendant from shoving and forcing the woman into the ambulance after she stated she did not wish to go. There were no grounds for arrest.
I could see what was happening: they were trying to provoke our pacifist people into violent action but I controled the people and kept them inside. I told my people not to get alarmed, that I would go to the police station, try to reason with them and get our people out of jail.
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I walked into the police division with officials of our church, member-attorneys, and visiting officials. While in conference with the PR man for the police department, three white officers stepped up to me and said that I was going to be taken into custody also. They put me in a cell with blood splattered all over the floor, possibly to intimidate me. My wife, who was that time a high state official, was put into a room without windows. It was as if they knew the one problem she had not overcome was claustrophobia. One man (who I don’t even remember the name of because they all looked the same to me) came up to me and said, “Well, you’ve got lots of people, you can afford bail.” I told him that being we hadn’t done anything wrong, I wouldn’t dream of putting up any bail, and in the first place: poor people can’t afford to bail, I am a socialist and I don’t believe in the bail system. He said that I couldn’t stay in jail – it will be at least six weeks before I would get on the court docket. I said, “that’s your problem, I don’t take bail.” This went on for a few hours when finally a police commander came in and said that he understood that I had refused bail and that there had been some mistake: my wife and I were to be released. I said, “No you won’t. You will have to release all of us because we’ve done nothing wrong.” I told him that I had instructed my entire congregation to wait for our return. I was getting weary of this and so was my congregation and they’d probably be down to find out what is going on.
He left saying he had to call somebody, who it was I never knew. After three hours had past he came back and said charges were dropped on all of us. I told him that we wanted someone to come to our church and apologize to the people because it is difficult enough keeping pacifism. On the following Thursday police officer apologized publicly to our congregation. Thereafter we paid for it.
Harassment went on and on for several weeks until I finally culminated in a second arrest (described in the November 15 letter). My arrest was not made at the scene of the “set-up”, but in a hallway, a public place. I suppose it was meant to cause embarrassment. They said something like, “we warned you, don’t resist,” which showed that they were evidently counting on me to resist. Another attempt at intimidation occurred when we were crossing over a bridge. The policeman slowed down the car and said, “It would make a fellow in your position feel like jumping off a bridge, wouldn’t it?” So I went through the same old process; told him I wouldn’t take bail. I told him we didn’t care what they did, that we knew their workings and we will consider anything they say “a badge of honor.” The district attorney knew the judge I was to get was a conservative, or moderate at best, but even he knew the despicable tactics they use in the charges were dropped, as the record, which was ordered sealed, shows, with no stipulation to probable cause “and” no evidence that a violation occurred. And wife, my son, and all persons involved in both incidents have been completely exonerated. We will gladly produce affidavits as well as a copy of the sealed records showing that there was no evidence that any violation occurred. Amazingly, there was never a word in the press about it because of the audacious stand I took by telling all of my people about it. I have told all this to my people because I believe in being open and direct.
Two activists from integrated groups have had similar frame-ups this past week. Although they were not members of our organization nor have they expressed a desire to come live in Guyana, they have been very supportive of us. This same department has even tried to frame the mayor of Los Angeles on two different locations. His opinion of this department was drastically modified.
Now [Ed Davis] the head of the entire Los Angeles Police Department, a man with a reputation as a reactionary fascist running for governor of our state clearly shows which way the political scenario is moving. In the black sections of Los Angeles there is an average of two slayings of innocent blacks each week.
POST RIOT:
After the riot they tried to start – a man working in the LAPD came to me in confidence because he shares some of our views, and warned us to be very, very careful and watch out. Unfortunately we weren’t careful enough. This same man has come to us again, speaking to my associate minister in Los Angeles. Again in confidence, he said for us to watch out, that the police department is storing these tactics again. He wasn’t referring to us this time, but warned us (because of our association with Guyana) that any Guyanese officials working in their line of duty was in imminent danger.
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These racist tactics are not involved in any of our people, but they have involved black people we know. This warning about your officials worries me because it was through the knowledge of your consulate in LA that we met Claude Worrell and how we came to be in Guyana. Claude was a fighter and he knew the police state consciousness, but he is no longer there: I am a scrapper and a fighter but I am not there.
This is the same man with the same warning and his warnings came to reckoning. We have instructed all of our people to not go to any public places because we know we can’t be too careful – the last incident took place down the street from our church in a theater.
There have been only two situations with the law but we’ve had many “close shaves” with police harassment especially on our educational cross-country trips in our fleet of Greyhound buses. One time on a street corner in New York there was a black lad and a Puerto Rican lad with knives in their hands going at it. We jumped off the bus asking what kind of inhumane treatment is this for a policeman standing to the temperament. The policeman told us to get back on the bus and stay out of it, they would break up the fight, which they subsequently did. Had our presence not been there, I don’t know what would have happened (possibly one of them might have been killed: the other charged with murder).
There are strong neo-fascist signals and right-wing turns, therefore I want to forewarn you because I know you have an office there. I don’t know if the man knows what he is talking about. But, he is in the right department to know and he was accurate on the last occasion.
PNC INVOLVEMENT:
The PNC Conference held at Matthews Ridge within the past couple of days enthusiastically received the performance of our various talents of music, singing, and the Peoples Temple drill team. Our delegates and performers told us of the delighted reception we were given for our participation and we deeply appreciate this.
Minister Jack’s remarks about us publicly and also privately when he came in to visit us were filled with good will and encouragement. The Regional Minister at the conference also publicly acknowledged our contributions to the community with a spirit of fellowship. Minister King mentioned the absurdity of bringing in and using soft drinks when the most delicious drinks are right there only waiting to be prepared. We couldn’t agree more. We only use local drink and find soft drinks to be inferior in quality and costly indulgence.
Members of the conference were very understanding of the fact that our people were not in the best of appearance because he lost some clothing and had no clothing to change into after being involved in the long train ride and the self-help program in the area before the meeting.
The conference was most stimulating to our delegates in attendance but they couldn’t help noticing the boredom displayed and the mannerisms of home they found out to be, Gregory Gaskin’s wife. Because our new home means so much to us, they found it quite odd that she didn’t even sing the National Anthem. The little girl sitting in between her and her husband (apparently her little girl) must have found her behavior strange also because she kept looking up at her in stony silence.
Our local PNC meetings in Kaituma are attended weekly by approximately twenty delegates from Peoples Temple. We are making up the deficit to meet the Kaituma Party goal.
REGIONAL COOPERATION:
Our medical program has been called the most advanced and thorough performing for any hinterland or rural project. Dr. [Larry] Schacht, our young doctor, is now going into the local community to reach people with medical attention.
ENTERTAINMENT:
During the tour of our farm one Minister made favorable comments about our elimination of violent films from our up-to-date selection of educational, entertainment, and comedy features shown on our video TV. We found it very encouraging that the
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government shares our views about the association of violent films anti-social behavior. We also agree that the wrong sort of films tend to encourage an improper emphasis on materialism.
We are attempting more assimilation and many of the young members at the Matthews Ridge conference were very friendly to our young people but all they could talk of was wishing they could get married so they could move to the USA. We found this to be the only discouraging thing about the otherwise absorbing conference.
We feel it would be helpful if a different kind of film was brought into the country; which didn’t give a Hollywood version of life as greener on the other side of the fence. We know it is difficult for a small developing nation to do much educating about the racism in the US, but we have seen our own children develop by leaps and bounds since we brought them only films with moral themes, or documentaries, or ones carry messages about the bad social conditions of the Western Society (even Hollywood has made some good ones with these themes).
NECESSITY: THE MOTHER OF INVENTION:
We have completely eliminated the need for cooking gas in our meal preparation for nearly one thousand people. Wood burning outdoor ovens and stoves proved to be more efficient, more reliable and less expensive in our communal cooking. Our boat took nearly twenty empty cooking gas cylinders to Georgetown to be filled. No gas was to be found anywhere so we had a meeting of our inventive people with practical skills and within a couple of days we developed a method of cooking which turned out to be superior.
A steam generator, which will operate on wood and waste, is on order to supply power to the entire community. This will eliminate any need for the very expensive fuel to operate our generators. We are doing what we can to become as “local” minded as possible and to save what foreign dollars we can for the important development necessities for Guyana.
Cooperatively Yours,
Jim Jones
Enclosure: Common Sense article
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Mike Prokes letter to Forbes Burnham, December 20, 1977
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears at BB-29-zzz-1 – zzz-6 on https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=125541.]
Dec. 20, 1977
Peoples Temple Agricultural Project
PO Box 893
Georgetown
The Hon. Forbes Burnham
Prime Minister
Public Buildings
Brickdam
Georgetown
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
Please forgive what will undoubtedly end up being a lengthy letter, but there are a few matters we think you would want to be aware of, and a few others that we would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention. During the
During the course of a friendly exchange with one of our staff members, one of your security guards – without being prompted in any way – made the statement that he liked the United States and preferred capitalism. The remark wasn’t very comforting, to say the least, for obvious reasons. We don’t know his name but he mentioned that he has been your guard for seven years and was trained in Cuba for six months. Our sense of duty requires that we report this to you, as we felt it was a grave statement that might have serious implications in a time of crisis.
Our members appreciated hearing you speak import Kaituma during visit, and this past Sunday your recent in Black Bush Polder. We sent 125 people to Port Kaituma who were rewarded for exemplary work with the privilege of going. We would have sent more people but it was discussed and decided that the loss in production would be too great (which also affects how much we are able to assist the Party.) (We hope our last assistance to the Regional Minister was helpful; we’ll continue to do this from time to time as we are able.) Unfortunately, our financial burden has been increased by the problem of our members’ Social Security checks being deliberately held up. (We will likely start a class action suit.)
Knowing these are difficult times, at least half of our people did not take refreshments at the rally in Port Kaituma because that assignment among themselves not to add to the cost to the Party. (They did consider it a special reward for work well done to be able to attend, as I mentioned.) Had we known we were going to be on the program, we would have been prepared with more things that we’re making and growing in Jonestown.
Our members enjoy your speech immensely. Bishop Jones, who ordinarily doesn’t want to go out, would have loved to have made the trek to Port Kaituma to hear you speak. But our members wouldn’t hear of it being that the arrest orders are still in effect, and is thus felt that it is still not safe for him to leave the project.
Perhaps all the agencies, such as Interpol, will see in time that the Bishop has no political ambitions and then will leave Guyana and our people alone. However, our attorney here says there has to be enormous money behind the attempt to nullify our organization. Money has been spent two buy-off any persons who it is felt might be effective in promoting the conspiracy against us. (A prominent San Francisco public relations firm has been hired, for example, to
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discredit us by utilizing the media. Former Temple members, including infiltrators, provocateurs, and even a terrorist and Trotskyite element, have been paid to fabricate bizarre, outlandish stories against us. These stories are then submitted pre-packaged, we are told by journalist friends, to the press.)
One of those who has been turned against us is Timothy Stoen, the husband of the woman [Grace Stoen] who is attending to get custody of Bishop Jones’ son, John. Although they have been separated for several years, they are coming here in the first week of January, if not sooner, for the continuation of the hearings. According to their attorney, they plan an indefinite stay when we know that neither of them have any money of their own to speak of.
Stoen only used Peoples Temple to advance his own career as an attorney. He was not in basic agreement with our socialist lifestyle. He pretended otherwise, but his own lifestyle revealed too clearly his capitalistic nature. The enclosed article, copied from an old news clipping, shows where his true sympathies lie.
Another area of concern to us is in regards to various comments made by an official whose life we mentioned in a previous letter. (She was referred to as not showing patriotic concern when the national anthem was sung at a district conference.) We’re not wanting to indict this man; that’s why I’m not referring to him by name (not knowing who might read this). We hope this will be kept confidential so that things won’t be strained further. It could be our own subjectivity, but this official gave the impression that he had to escort you and your delegation around. He said that when you came, he had to have gasoline, so we gave him all that we had at the time and our people got to Port Kaituma (for the rally) the best way they could. His comments made our members feel uneasy. He said he felt that our organization couldn’t function without Bishop Jones’ charisma – that it was the only thing holding us together. First of all, the Bishop is not that charismatic; but beyond that, the remark showed a total lack of awareness of the Bishop’s character and loyalty. Though he does function as the leader of our organization, he has taken great pains to insure that the survival of Peoples Temple does not depend upon his personal leadership.
One of our members, a woman, mentioned to this official after the rally that you were sensitive to cut your speech short due to the heat, which few leaders will do. He responded in a snide, cunning way, saying, “Yeah, but it was still an hour long.” We don’t know whether he was testing us or what, but if that’s the case, our loyalty will always come through 100%. It’s absolutely pointless the land that on us and we wonder why he continues to do it. Maybe he is trying to test different ones of our group because everyone he talks with hears him make snide little remarks. But there is some overlap because he put one of our people, Harriet Tropp, through it before. It’s practically an interrogation. In fact, that’s how he tried to represent himself, as a sort of official interrogator. It’s almost as if he feels like he has us in a corner. Our people got the impression that we have to do pretty much what he demands of us.
The official said he had a one-track mind and then started in about sex. He said he believes in free sex and that such an attitude between men and women and whomever is an indication of freedom in other areas. It sounded very strange to us. Among those talking with him were a lawyer and a school teacher.
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They didn’t get argumentative; they simply said that people get together in our group as they wish, although we do not encourage promiscuity because it is a form of exploitation. That was our statement. But then he went on to ask the group about Bishop Jones’ sex life. (The Bishop was not present.) He asked if the Bishop saw someone in the group he wanted, would he be able to have sex with that person (That’s roughly how he put it). He was told that one of the Bishop’s strongest character points his loyalty and that includes loyalty to his wife, (who is under no small amount of fire in the States.) The groups and said they didn’t feel comfortable discussing the Bishop’s sex life without him being present and suggested that the questions be asked of the Bishop himself. When it was mentioned that the Bishop had been happily married for 28 years, he said in a brash sort of way, “Well, a lot of men are happily married but that doesn’t mean they don’t have sex with other women.” (The man’s wife, by the way, who is pregnant, was there during this discussion.) Our people aren’t easily bothered by forthright discussions, what they found this to be a disgusting performance.
His wife never spoke until he left the room, at which time she said sure like to have some of our folks help out with the craft workshop with local youth. We of course said we’d be happy to do so.
Maybe it is just this man’s personality to act in the manner he does around us. At least he didn’t directly to our face. (Although he has taken children aside who later told us some rather strange questions he asked them.) He also said he thought – from observing faces – that our people lacked spontaneity, which is the most ridiculous thing in the world. Anyone would know by observation that they were spontaneously enjoying your speech. He attributed this “lack” regimentation and some sort of socialist authoritarianism. We told him to drop by in the evenings or after work hours so he could see this what we were having recreation, entertainment, or simply moments of pleasure and levity. He asked us point blank if he could spend a week on the project, going to meetings, touring the various programs and facilities, etc. We of course said yes but he would be coming with bias and not from our perspective at all, so we would prefer that he not be sent. He could never appreciate our lifestyle. He said he wanted to bring some people from the Ridge on a tour in January and we said we would love to have them. But we basically don’t trust this man. He is someone who, in our opinion, has no loyalty to you because he revolves almost entirely around his own self.
It’s people like the above-mentioned who make us feel short-lived. We live only one day at a time but we can’t help but wonder what we would face if and when you, and a few of your top ministers, were not on the scene. We have not have seen the same character and commitment in others as we have seen in the few of you. Knowing your resolve has helped us when we’ve received anonymous letters (an example of one is enclosed) saying that there is no commitment to us and that were going to be sold out here. We know these are – undoubtedly – tricks.
Another thing that was disturbing to us was a question asked by the official mentioned earlier if we thought our organization could be used as a front (just as the Black Panthers had been found to be infiltrated). It bothered us because we received word from a friendly source of ours that the man (Joseph Mazor, the private investigator with the long criminal background who is referred to as a “con man” in an official probation report we obtained) who is pulling the strings said he was going to plant the notion that we are a CIA front. We told
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the official that our organization is not conducive to infiltration because we are a hard-working group of people, and as such, we really get to know our members well. What we do is not glamorous, into our work routine we develop a high degree of camaraderie that would cause a phony to stick out like a sore thumb.
The intelligence community is aware of our organization, however – there is no doubt about that. Through an attorney for Daniel Ellsberg (who leaked the Pentagon Papers, as you may remember), we learned how various data banks are being used, particularly the kind that centralize information on dissidents and political figures. One of these data banks is in East Lansing, Michigan where I’m sure it is no coincidence that a minister by the name of Trifa lives. Trifa has been identified by a number of Jews as having participated in a mass slaughter of Jews in Hitler’s Germany. (A book we have entitled Wanted documents this man’s past and shows his connections with the American Nazi movement today and its significant political influence.) Peoples Temple clashed with the Nazis when we took them on in our newspaper.
The intelligence center housing the data bank is connected with the University of Michigan. It gives actual recommendations and plans on how to “smash” (the actual crude word that was used, post-Watergate no less) persons who are considered to be political threats. We’re supposed to get a copy of such a report which we’ll pass along to you. The intelligence is both national and international in scope. This is the type of thing that goes on covertly in the US, no doubt without even the President’s awareness, as it is unlikely that Carter would approve of such a mess. (The data bank covers S. American countries, including Guyana.)
The attorney told us that Bishop Jones is viewed as a political threat in South America and that he is rated for kidnapping or assassination. The Bishop is not worried about these threats but our members are extremely concerned. The ironic truth is that he doesn’t want anything for himself. He only wants to establish a model community to help Guyana in her relations with the US. To help bring peace for Guyana, the Bishop doesn’t even speak about the US anymore. He was refusing all political interviews when he was in the US last. He granted only those interviews that permitted him to speak of our human service work because, with the US public going more reactionary, he didn’t want to risk hurting Guyana’s situation in regard to the US.
The attorney is concerned that the data banks make it easy to push organizations around because of the ease of feeding information into them (which is often false) and also taking information out. Thus, even honest agencies can be confused and manipulated by the information that is under the auspices of data banks, which a lot of people are utilizing. Plus, the fact that the information is coming out of a computer use the information more credibility (at least for a time) as well as an aura of authority.
It has long disturbed good peoples’ consciences in the States, including progressives in government, the false information is fed into federal data banks with ease. Such information can be, and often has been, recirculated and used for political reasons – pawned off as the gospel truth. We don’t know exactly what is going on in our case, but we sure have [blank space] plenty of nefarious and horrible things happening to us. They tried to poison Bishop Jones’ wife in a cocktail setting, which was quite a jolt recently. And just two weeks
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ago a young man who was remotely connected with us who was an activist, was clearly assassinated. Our people in the States see it as an attempt to intimidate us into thinking we can expect more if we don’t quit supporting socialism and socialist causes here and there. The information on this case looks very bad. No one, including our attorney, doubts that it was an assassination. The victim had a considerable amount of money on his person which wasn’t touched.
Bishop Jones received a lot of harassment before he left the States, particularly in the Los Angeles area where it’s like a police state. Cde. Claude Worrell told several of us before he died Matt – similar to Bishop Jones’ experience – he was also the target of a set-up involving plainclothes police who hung out in men’s toilets. (Cde. Worrell was undoubtably remembered there for representing members of the Black Panther Party, which would automatically buy trouble with law enforcement agencies.)
I just want to bring a couple of other things to your attention that are of concern to us here. One involves a man who came to our Open House last Saturday night. There were a couple of hundred guests who came and all were friendly except for him. He signed our guestbook as L.P. Ferreira (or something close to that) from the Registrar’s Office. He serves in the capacity of marrying people, and he said he didn’t believe our people chose their partners. It was an absurd and ludicrous statement because often the couples have related sexually, and one couple was even expecting a child before the marriage. (We don’t prohibit such relationships, as we aren’t strict in that area, the we do strongly encourage the nuclear family.) His statement was most disturbing probably because he works in an area that attempted to serve the papers on us concerning the Bishop’s son. This man was intoxicated at the time, but that is when we find people often reveal what’s in their minds.
An item that has just been brought to my attention is that Constable Persaud came to the PNC meeting (after not having attended for some time) making bigoted remarks about our people being “Yankees”. It was obvious he was a little drunk, I’m informed. He accused our doctor of only helping people who support the government (which is of course ridiculous). He started his harangue outside the meeting and then came inside. My information is that other Party members were very supportive of us.
Finally, we wanted you to know how much we appreciated your friendliness, as well as that of your wife, Dr. Reid, and Minister Mingo following the rally last Sunday in Black Bush Polder. We felt as if we were treated with genuine respect and that helped us considerably, because of our feeling of not having a future. We know we work better than others we see who think they have a whole lifetime to live, but it helps more than you can ever know to have people of your positions take the time to say encouraging things and even make suggestions (such as the one you made about stocking our stream with fish). Thank you for the show of friendship. We again pledge to you our undying loyalty – though we’re well aware of what that can mean. We are realists. We know there are some who don’t share your progressive values, and thus if you were gone our loyalty would mean that we’d been sacrificed. But we face this because we’re always faced what the future might bring. That is how we’ve survived. Our people have been through hell. 25 years of harassment in the US – the most vicious type of racist harassment that is more than anyone would believe, unless they themselves lived through it – caused Jim Jones to become very realistic. That
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is why you can be assured of our solidarity and staunch support. It’s based on awareness and on principle, which is the best kind of solidarity to have. It’s based on a 20 hour-a-day work schedule of the leader, not on some charismatic quality. Though he speaks and writes well, that’s not where it’s at. It’s based on an immense concern for every individual – to always be there in the time of crisis or emergency and to risk himself for them.
There are many other things that seem significant enough to pass along, but we’ve already taken more of a Prime Minister’s time than I suspect we have a right to. If you have any suggestions or criticisms arising out of anything we’ve brought to your attention, we’d love to hear from you via any means you might choose to communicate. But please know we are not expecting it. We only want to be doing is our best to serve.
All the best.
Cooperatively yours,
/s/ Mike Prokes
Mike Prokes
Asst-to-the-Bishop
cc: Dr. Reid
Min. Mingo
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[Newspaper article]
Reds Kept Local Students 15 Hours Without Food for Taking Photos
Fifteen hours in Communist hands. That was the experience of Tim Stoen, Littleton graduate, who had the audacity to take a picture of a sign being erected in East Berlin.
Stoen told about his ordeal at the Rotary Club last week after returning from a year abroad on a Rotary Fellowship.
“I thought I should go to East Berlin and see what it is like behind the Iron Curtain,” Stoen said. “The first thing I noticed was the blank expression on the faces of everyone. You could tell they were just waiting for the day they might have some freedom. This will come slowly. Poets are already getting some freedom, and so are theatrical people and musicians. It was noteworthy that a journalist was able to print in Moscow the interview with President Kennedy.”
Began Taking Pictures
Stoen said he took a number of pictures in East Berlin without difficulty. Then he took one of a sign being erected near the newly built wall.
Three German officers rushed over to Tim and an East Berlin student who was showing him around. They took the pair at 12:30 p.m. to a building and held them there until 8 p.m.
“I was fearful for my new found friend because he had taken too many liberties for the Communists, and I didn’t want to get him in trouble,” Stoen said. “Finally, at 8 p.m., three men escorted me out of the building and put me in a Czech car. We drove and we drove in silence. I didn’t know Berlin was so large. We came to a building with bars on it and I was taken in and questioned. They kept trying to trip me up, coming around to the same questions in different words to see if I would contradict myself. I had to take everything out of my pockets. They found a roll of exposed film and kept it. The guards were curious about my nail clip and wanted to see how it worked. They had never seen an American coin purse that opens a crack when you bend it, and they were like children with it. I was getting both weak and apprehensive, and I was trying to test the power of positive thinking. I had had no food for 15 hours and I was glad when they brought me some unpalatable ham sandwiches. Soon afterwards they took me to the border and let me go.”
Stoen had a happier experience in West Germany, 5 miles from the East German border. A little old lady recognized him as an American without much in the way of funds.
“She pressed two things in my hands,” Stoen reported. “One gift was about 40 [cents] worth of coins and the other was a sack containing four bananas. She told me that she loved Americans for the kindness she received from them at the close of World War II.”
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[Editor’s note: This letter appears numerous places on the site, including at https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=113899.]
Jim,
I consider it my duty to do all possible to set the record straight. It is imperative that you and your people realize what is going on, and where you are all headed. You are playing right into the hands of international renegades who are preparing to betray you and let you go down the drain… when they present the US administration their comming deal with Jaggan [Guyana opposition leader Cheddi Jagan].
Why do you think Jaggan is coming to the USA so often these days? Your money is your appeal in Guyana. They are just waiting until you get all your money transferred there along with 50,000 dollars you put into defense funds and the government will take it all over. We know all your transactions in Guyana and we know some other things you have done for Guyana. It is all part of a scheme to get all your members on your location so that you can be isolated and systematically exterminated. It is difficult to understand how you could be so gullible. You have only to read a few newspapers to find out the international conspiracy is behind the whole thing, and you are being used as scapegoats, just like the many other communist sympathizers back here in the US. You say you believe in conspiracy but you can’t even see the conspiracy which is temporarily winning there too. We know about people in government there and believe me you have been sold out for money. It would be in your best interest if you redeem yourself with United States. If you don’t you will regret it. Get those defense bonds out now, or you will pay more than money. We can get the child for you if you cooperate. You can’t win. In the end, so the best thing for you is to save yourself now, before we proceed with our plans to get the child away from you. We have guarantees. You can count on our word that the transfer of money into Guyana and you not only lose the child, but the future for you and your people. You had better plan our way, or you will not forget soon how sorry you will be. Face facts, the Guyana Government is not loyal to you, so why be so stupid as to place confidence in them.
If you want the child and to save you and your people, let us know by placing an add in the San Francisco Chronicle for “James S. Black, Meet you at the picture show at ten”. Otherwise, lose everything.
PS Of course you must understand that you are not going to last longer anyway, because the USA and Guyana have already agreed to extradite you.
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Sharon Amos letter to Forbes Burnham, January 17, 1978
January 17, 1978
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Community Building
Stabroek
Georgetown
Dear Cde. Prime Minister Burnham,
This brief message is of urgent critical importance about help that will be afforded to us and you. The stand you took on these harassing subversives is admirable. There are too many church lenders citizens, Congressmen, and legislators to count who are infuriated with intrusion into the affairs of your nation. We are only sorry you haven’t had time to hear from other Congressmen and sensitive government leaders such as Lt. Governor Dymally of California. We can assure you that these hate mongers like Tim and Grace Stoen and their representative Jeffrey Haas – who are even so bold as to openly suggest the lie that the U.S. State Dept. and Justice Dept. and the Government here are in collusion on our behalf over this matter of people like John – they will not be successful.
You should see the carbons of the counsellors, city, state, and government officials who wrote to help break up the attempt to hold up our mail and Social Security checks which are flowing regularly again.
Therefore we beg you, please stand behind our simple request that all of us be allowed to live here in this agricultural community in peace. No one wants to leave and to constantly have to negotiate with our lives and future, is an untenable position that does not provide the security necessary to work. We can, without being presumptuous, state that we have been the most productive community you can find anywhere in terms of goods and services and work of the first magnitude, and as a model of equality and race relations.
Please free our clothes and equipment now. The equipment will rust, and these charges that we are going to resell are insulting, not to mention ridiculous in that everything we have in clothes are used. The clothes are desperately needed at this time and the equipment such as the shoe repair machinery is absolutely vital for our continued survival.
We are not without a vast number of supporters in San Francisco and on every level of society. Please don’t feel that Guyana’s economic aid from the U.S. will be held back by these cruel though assinine conspirators. Please give us assurances about our medical staff and school remaining intact and the immediate release of the crates that number nearly 150. As we know by customs statements nearly 100 of them have been gone through piece by piece.
To be without any of the above only opens us to more smears from reactionary elements. We are soon to have visiting dignitaries from San Francisco. But even with them we should make our best appearance. They are very friendly to us, and because of us to Guyana also.
We came here to make the best contribution to Guyana and your government in life or death if it is necessary to defend your integrity and sovereignty. Therefore we beg you before it is very harmful to all of us to give us the security of knowing our harassers that have been with us 27 long years (that’s how long many of us have been together) cannot reach over here viciously to make our lives like some type of Dante’s Inferno.
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The conspirators have tried to go so far as to attempt to influence countries of our persuasion. But that misinformation is being rectified by showing us to be non-aligned and by their doing excellent objective articles on our project and our work.
Cooperatively yours.
Sharon Amos
Personal Secretary to Bishop Jim Jones
cc: Dr. Reid, Minister Wills, Minister Mingo
P.S. The U.S.S.R. consulate is going to be sending visitors to our project to see first hand our accomplishments. We are not getting involved in their political issues as we love Guyana –they are just coming to visit, and possibly do an article for publication in the Soviet Union. It was arranged by different people and friends in various parts of the world and the U.S. People we know from the Soviet Union in the U.S. are very supportive of our work. We will not be getting embroiled in controversial issues. We will only speak of non-alignment and give the highest praises to Guyana.
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Sharon Amos letter to Forbes Burnham regarding custody and conspiracies, January 17, 1978
January 17, 1978
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Community Buildings
Stabroek
Georgetown
Dear Cde. Prime Minister Burnham.
There are presently several matters that are of more critical concern to us than anything wo have faced thus far in Guyana. They are as follows:
CHILD CUSTODY CASE IN INVOLVING BISHOP JONES’ SON
We wonder if the judge in this case is being influenced (financially) by the other side. First of all, the judge clearly issued the orders for Bishop Jones’ arrest – illegally. The service of the arrest order was also illegal. Then on Saturday January 7th instead of dealing with the matter before the court – the question of the legitimacy of the orders against Bishop Jones – the judge allowed the Stoen’s representative to go into a diatribe about a new unrelated matter he wanted the court to consider. On January 10th the Stoen’s made plane reservations to leave on January 18th for themselves and John. We wonder what made them so sure – the day before the hearing – that the judge would decide in their favor? On January 11th the hearing was convened and the judge, instead of making a decision chose instead to reserve decision on the entire matter. We have been advised it could be months before any final decision is made, keeping Bishop Jones and the entire Jonestown project in a state of suspense and limbo.
The case is clear cut in our favor and we are wondering why the judge is so hesitant to make a decision. Even the Chancellor advised before the first order was issued that his case was unsupportable, and he should review his decision. For some reason he did not. Our representative is taking the position that since the original application by the Stoens was not supported by the mother, the application is therefore a nullity. Another incident that lends much credence to the idea that the case is being influenced is that our representative told us he was offered more money than he has ever been paid to work for the other side. He agreed with us that it appears this judge is working for the other side even though he is willing to stake his reputation on the rightness of our case and its ultimate triumph in court. But his observations certainly don’t lessen our apprehensions.
The latest development in this scenario is one that has left us with a feeling of no security whatsoever. We were assured that when Stoens no longer had reason to be in Guyana (i.e. when the hearing was over) that they would be asked to leave the country. When this order was issued, the Stoens lodged a protest with the American Embassy, which in turn lodged a formal protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The next day only an hour before they were to depart on their flight, the orders were rescinded. In what we deem highly questionable, the American Consul Dick McCoy called the airport, according to friends, and advised the Stoens the orders had been withdrawn, in effect acting as a representative for the government of Guyana in order to enforce their decision. It is things like this that make us wonder just what is going on. While Tim Stoen, who hates Guyana and Socialism, has orders immediately rescinded and walks the streets of Georgetown a free man, JIM JONES WHO IS DOING MORE FOR GUYANA THAN ANY AMERICAN – AND WHO IS SETTING AN EXAMPLE BY ESTABLISHING THE COUNTRY’S MOST PRODUCTIVE COOPERATIVE– IS VIRTUALLY IMMOBILIZED ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE HIS ILLEGAL ARREST ORDER (FOR SOME REASON) IS NOT WITHDRAWN. IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE.
If we lose the case at this juncture, the ramifications are dangerously serious for both Guyana and Peoples Temple. The decision will be used to get negative publicity against you and us in the States. More critically, it will keep the flow of legal
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harassment coming here as the funds to do this are obviously coming from the Interpol agent [Joe] Mazor who is orchestrating the conspiracy. (The people who have come here so far were in no financial position to make such a trip and stay in the best hotels.) Furthermore the withdrawal of the eviction orders on the Stoens make the situation even more serious as it sets a precedent. The conspirators will interpret this as weakness and it will encourage them to increase this type of harassment in the future.
NO WIN SITUATION
We have been given information by the American Consul Dick McCoy that makes it clear that we are being set up in what can be termed a no win situation. If the judge decides in our favor, the Stoen’s attorney, Jeffrey Haas will say the ruling was handed down because the government of Guyana influenced the lodge and did not give the Stoens a fair trial. We were told that he has already made statements that Peoples Temple has government officials in their pockets, and that we have been depositing lump sums of money in different places for people to help influence the judge. This is a gross insult to the government of Guyana, as well as Peoples Temple, implying that government officials would ever be bought off. We find Haas’ statements to be libelous and defamatory and actionable. We are now starting the procedures to bring suit against Haas.
Haas is spreading these lies about Peoples Temple and Guyana to government officials in the U.S. McCoy told us that he has already received two telegrams from the U.S. State Dep’t. inquiring as to whether or not the Stoens will be able to receive a fair trial in Guyana. There are also two Congressmen, [Don] Edwards and [Leo] Ryan of California, who have expressed similar concern. And what is even more sinister is that Haas is complaining to officials that he is getting little cooperation from the U.S. State Dep’t. and the Guyana American Embassy in this matter and is accusing them of “whitewashing” the matter.
We have many people at all levels in the U.S. who offer support to us, but if the situation is being set up for us to lose regardless of what decision is made, then it is only persons like yourself that we can turn to in hopes for justice. We are trying to at least understand the machinery of such a situation, and feel like it is an ongoing grave matter.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF COURT CASE
We feel, as did Dick McCoy, that the enclosed documents regarding the paternity of the child and Tim Stoen’s aberration, should be presented to the judge as they are highly relevant. We have been told that the judge still has reservations in his mind as top who in fact is the real father. [several illegible lines] If the judge has not seen these documents, he is not in possession of the full facts and consequently cannot make a just decision. We have given ample reasons for being worried that such impartiality will be shown and is enhanced by Clarence Hughes’ statement that he is entirely satisfied with the judge which contradicts his counterpart Haas.
BACKGROUND OF TIM STOEN
You should be aware of some background on Tim Stoen. We have from very reliable and informed sources that he has been an agent-provacateur from way back. We should have been able to suspect him years ago because there were several
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things that showed the fibre of the man’s character. Several had noticed (but had not said anything) that Stoen didn’t like to be around black people except to use then. Even here in Guyana, friends have told us that he is exploiting a black prostitute whom he has been seen with on several occasions. He masquerades as being a devoted husband to Grace Stoen even though they had been separated for years (and she lied on him in the newspapers), but he is with a black prostitute to exploit her and Grace is still with her racist boyfriend. Tim Stoen’s only contact with black people in Peoples Temple was shallow or exploitive. He used one black woman sexually after her husband had left her and then he rejected her cruelly.
Tin Stoen has a lust for power and self-aggrandizement which was reflected in a diagram and chart in which he outlined how he plans on rising to the Presidency of the United States. We have a copy of this outline in his own handwriting which we will send to you. As a part of this plan, he told us that he dated a woman merely because he thought her father had political influence and could help him get ahead. Things like this show not only Stoen’s illusions of grandeur, but also his calculated ruthlesness.
He was always trying to get next to people with money and those who dealt with money. In fact, when others were very infatuated with Tim Stoen and wanted him to become more involved with the church finances, Jim said no, and even though he was a minority opinion he kept his stead. As it turns out it would have been a tragedy if he hadn’t. Many of these things did not come to our attention until after Stoen had left and people, upon reflection, saw that there were several things that just didn’t fit. We have learned that he even encouraged susceptible young people to participate in Trotskyite anarchistic behavior.
Tim Stoen has proven he is certainly no friend to Guyana. His devious and insidious behavior reflects this. On one occasion he came to Minister [Vibert] Mingo and represented himself falsely as being sent by hr. Reid, an outright lie. He tried to pressure Minister Mingo into taking action against Jim Jones using the police, and when Minister Mingo refused, still had the gall and audacity to ask him if he would help him out even if the court case was unsuccessful. Behavior such as this is outrageous and alone should be enough to have him removed from Guyana, and never allowed to return. The Stoens attorney insisted to the American consul that he be present in the courts because he didn’t have trust in the Guyanese legal system. The judge presiding over the case complained that an American had called him several times the day of the hearing applying pressure. He said the calls came from the Tower [Hotel] (where the Stoens are staying) and the Pegasus (where the Stoens spend some of their time), and he was very upset that people would be pressuring him. They certainly are not the ones that are interfering with the judge’s work, and from the pattern he has set, it seems like one of Stoen’s old tricks. It is Tim Stoen and the forces aligned on his side that have total disrespect for the law and self-determination of Guyana. Reliable sources have told us that he has made the grandiose statement that he could get the Guyana government and its officials to do what he wants them to do. Even before arriving in Guyana he announced that he would return with John, one way or the other. Surely you can understand our non-negotiable position – no one in good conscience could abandon a sensitive, intelligent child to people who are part of a conspiracy and who are using the child as a ploy to try and discredit and destroy a group of people devoted to Socialist principles.
CUSTOMS
We have been having tremendous difficulty in another area – customs, which has lowered the morale of our people also. We have been encouraged to populate and develop a region where few people want to live, and we have sacrificed voluntarily to accomplish this. On the one hand we receive encouragement to grow and develop, and on the other hand we are stifled from doing so by the bureaucratic red tape and duty taxations of customs (although we suspect there is more to it than simple red tape and clumsy bureaucracy). Even government officials have admitted it is harassment.
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We have 90 crates on the docks at John Fernandes’ wharf since September. All these crates have been torn apart and inspected individually. A letter to Minister Frank Hope, requesting duty free entry on these 90 crates, sat on his desk for one month. By the time the letter was returned to us, the want of entry date on our crates had expired, and we were forced to write another letter – to another official – requesting that our want of entry date be extended. We even have actually had to buy many of the same goods and supplies that are in the crates because the items were so urgently needed. There are still more things that we need right now that are in the crates. We can’t afford to buy the items elsewhere, and it is ludicrous that we were forced to do so when the things we needed are in the crates. We currently have another shipment of 113 pices [pieces] at the docks of GNEC, with more shipments already on the way.
These shipments include vital medical supplies. Our doctor sees local residents in our region every day, in addition to our own people. Our medical team has saved at least two lives that we can document, and we have babies from Port Kaituma staying with us who have been under constant care for weeks. One of the babies is now a permanent resident at the parents’ request. All this has been entirely at our expense. even when we couldn’t afford the medications (such as antibiotics) or the transportation. We have turned no one away, but don’t know how long we can keep it up – especially when we are being drained by legal fees and enormous duty taxation. Minister Hope granted only token concessions on our request for duty-free entry, and consequently the tax on the first shipment alone will be over $7000 and approximately $8000-$9000 on the GNEC shipment.
With the amount of outreach we have undertaken and with the model community we are striving to build, surely our supplies should be considered vital and important to the development of the North West District. We are working hard to become entirely self-sufficient, but even this will be delayed because we want to help supply the government cassava mill in Kaituma. We simply cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars of duty. All the supplies we bring in, including office supplies, household goods and personal effects, are being use by and for the entire collective. Nothing is covered for specific individuals. In fact, many of these supplies will be just as beneficial to the local Guyanese residents as they will be to the residents of Jonestown.
The situation could be resolved if we were given a blanket concession of remittal of duty on all supplies we bring into the country. In the past foreign companies, who exploit Guyana’s resources and labor, were given concessions, so surely a productive contributing cooperative that will be loyal to the end, can be given concessions also.
If such a remittance is granted, the keys persons who should receive notification are Cdes. [Comrades] Corlette and White at customs on Lamaha St., Minister Pope, his permanent Secretary, Cde. Wilkerson, and Cde. Bender at the Ministry of Finance, Cde. Bowen and D’ Oliveri at Customs on Camp St. and Cde. Pooramsingh and Hillner at the Ministry of Trade.
LOYALTY TO GUYANA
If something could be done to resolve these patterns of concern, you don’t know how much it would mean to us. We have tried every avenue to obtain a solution, yet none has been forthcoming. Perhaps some sort of guidelines encompassing all the aspect of our relationship to Guyana could be drawn up in written form as a permanent definition of the parameters of within which we may live and grow. Our loyalty is to Guyana and such a decision you would never forget. (You can confirm that we offered our assistance – at great possible risk and sacrifice – when Guyana was experiencing her biggest problem that ended just recently.) The same loyalty that compels Jim Jones and our people to fight for any and all members – though some may only represent a liability to our collective in a physical sense – will be used to benefit
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Guyana with its most productive force. Anyone can see the outstanding accomplishments by the dedicated Socialists in Jonestown. We simply want to live in peace, produce in abundance to help feed, clothe, and house the nation, and be a part of Guyana’s great destiny.
All the best.
Cooperatively yours,
Sharon Amos
Personal Secretary to Bishop Jim Jones
cc: Dr. Reid
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Jonestown resident William Oliver letter to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham (undated)
[Peoples Temple letterhead]
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Buildings
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham,
We would like to bring to your attention a matter of serious concern. We often order films from Georgetown which we share with the people in Port Kaituma. Many of these films are of good quality and subject matter, but a good number of them are blatantly outrageous – representing the worst in American film making, and propagating (either subtlely or blatantly) attitudes which we feel are destructive of the moral fiber of people who uncritically view them, especially the young.
A good example is a U.S. “cop” film called “Badge 373,” rented in Georgetown. It is full of racism. The “hero” of the film is a New York policeman who speaks in a virtually continuous flow of racial epithets, and winds up killing an unarmed man in cold blood at his culminating act of “heroism.” The “enemy” in the film is a third world revolutionary group, portrayed in the most hideous manner, it’s members range from demented dope fiends to Mafia type hoodlums, all under the banner of independence and socialism. Throughout, the GREAT WHITE POLICEMAN HERO is glorified on his rampage of racist violence, kicking defenseless non-white people in the genitals or throwing them off buildings.
We study these films in a group setting, analyzing them for their propaganda. We know it has a deep affect on people – especially the young, and especially those who are, unfortunately, lured by the glamorized false depictions of American society. Of course, the psychological identification of the spectator with the “hero” figure helps drive the messages home. In “Badge 373” the messages are viciously racist and anti-revolutionary. Police brutality of the most disgusting, sadistic sorts is actually glorified.
As North Americans, and children of the television generation, many of us have a lot experience in what the U.S. media and film industry has to offer. If you wish, we would gladly give you suggestions of what would be good for viewing in Guyana – films that do not show the cheap sensationalism, violence, racism, and anti-socialist propaganda. Our private opinion is that many of the films shown in Guyana are outra-
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geous and inimical to the kind of moral, social and character goals that you are trying to encourage in the Guyanese people. Films like “Badge 373” tend to exacerbate racist feelings, while confusing (and, hence, undermining) moral distinctions. We see this as pernicious and dangerous. We are sure that you will concur that the subtle power of media propaganda cannot be underestimated. We actually know an Amerindian man who, because of it, has negative feelings about Blacks. We know other persons who have actually come here wanting to give their babies to us because they are part Black. Such is the fruit of this kind of propaganda.
We suggest that if you have not, you should have a look at some of these films, and if you wish, we would be happy to suggest alternate, good quality selections, in a constructive, helpful spirit.
Cooperatively Yours,
/s/ William Sheldon Oliver
William Sheldon Oliver
Administrative Assistant
Cc: Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Honorable Minister, Vibert Mingo
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Jonestown resident William Oliver letter to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, July 29, 1978
[Peoples Temple letterhead]
July 29, 1978
Honorable Prime Minister Forbes Burnham
Public Buildings
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown, Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Dear Prime Minister Burnham,
Over the past weeks several areas of concern have arisen, and we thought that now would be an appropriate time to synopsize some of these issues for your information and understanding.
1. THE PRESS
A. VIOLATION OF GUYANA AIRSPACE BY NATIONAL ENQUIRER
As you may be aware, about four weeks ago, on a Sunday, a private plane, chartered in Trinidad by [Gordon Lindsay] a reporter for the highly reactionary scandalmongering tabloid (The National Enquirer) circled our project eleven times at a dangerously low altitude. With total contempt for the laws of Guyana, they flew in, and “buzzed” the project, causing one senior, Mrs. Bailey, a heart attack by zooming over her head. The reporter admitted, arrogantly, to our attorney, Charles Garry, confirming this fact, is on its way to you. A U.S. Embassy official told our staff that any protest of this flagrant violation of Guyana’s laws would have to be lodged by the Guyanese government. A well-known author informed us that the National Enquirer is closely linked with the CIA. The reporters had appeared in Georgetown a few days before the plane incident, uninvited and unannounced, and at the height of the referendum issue. What they did in the capitol prior to contacting us is not known. It would appear that their high handed breach of Guyana’s rights as a sovereign nation should not go unchallenged. We hope that the letter from Mr. Garry will be helpful to your pursuit of this matter.
B. U.S. EMBASSY SUPPORT VIS A VIS ATTACKS
Generally, officials at the U.S. Embassy seem sympathetic. They have remarked that we are being treated unfairly and in an obviously biased fashion, and have told Carl Blackman that Kathy Hunter, the alcoholic reporter for a small town newspaper, is spreading a lot lies about our organization. Even those persons in the Embassy who are the least friendly admit this; if they say it to us, they are probably saying it to others as well. Dick McCoy, a man who openly brags about being a capitalist, and who one would thus expect to believe
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the word about socialists, none the less, said this [illegible word] press is biased or untrue and that we should not worry about or dignify anything it prints by offering them an interview. He said that they do nothing but smear and told him they already had the article completed. Thus, we do not understand why the socialists of the Guyanese media would feel it necessary to respond to this kind of trash. One U.S. Embassy official said that if the press continues it’s vendetta, and particularly if the Guyana media reprints the trash, Tim Stoen would achieve his ultimate goal because the government here will ask us to leave. We do not know if this was meant as a friendly word of warning, or just to upset us. He did say that Guyana is getting smeared badly in the U.S. over the referendum, socialist dictatorship etc., and thus news about us would not hurt them.
Along these lines, we would like to ask directly, is there a pressure point at which Guyana will be forced to ask us to leave? We recognize that the same forces in the U.S. are pressuring the State Department to cut off ties to Cuba and the President to dismiss Andrew Young (namely, the reactionary elements in the U.S. Congress – a growing number in these days of a renewed cold war, and budding neo-McCarthyite period). These same forces will be pressured by this against our organization. People will try to create bad relations between Guyana and ourselves. Thus, we need to know what kind of re-actions from Guyana might be expected in the event that there would ever be a Grand Jury harassment of Peoples Temple in California, or some other legal frame-up of some sort – as they are doing to practically all minority leaders in the U.S. Just what kinds of problems would such tactics cause for us here? What can we expect? Will we ever be pressured by the government into leaving Guyana? The thing that worries us in this regard is not your position, but that some of the members of the government who seem not to recognize (or underestimate) our commitment to maintain our socialist principles and to the government of Guyana in particular. It seems, sadly, that there are those who claim to be socialist, but who are not, and it is these who we are most worried about.
C. PRESS ABOUT GUYANA IN THE UNITED STATES
A local CBS broadcast made a comment that the U.S. does not really like to give financial help to Guyana but does so only to keep Guyana from seeking aid with the USSR, Cuba, etc. They also referred to this administration as being Black and thus Guyana “obviously had sympathies for Africans.” The implication was that such sympathies were somewhat criminal, and fit the current dangerous “red-baiting,” mood in the U.S.
A prominent leader of the CP, USA, who had been consistently very supportive of us was recently in the GDR [German Democratic Repulbic]. She told hosts of people that if Jim Jones and his people were behind Cde. Burnham, then she was satisfied that the PNC government was really working to implement socialism in Guyana. She made recommendations to the USSR to openly and reservedly back your government. She was highly pleased with an article in the Soviet press about Peoples Temple, which was also praiseworthy of Guyana. She will be having the article placed in a widely circulated magazine that is distributed to CP-USA
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2. CONSPIRACY; STRATEGY DIRECTED TO GUYANA GOVERNMENT
A. PRESS ARTICLES TO OFFICIALS
It seems quite clear that the only way to effectively destroy Peoples Temple is to try to “win” Cde. Leader and other officials to accept the position of our opponents. No other avenue is open, in that the State Department has openly said that they have visited Jonestown on more than one occasion, found none of the allegations to be true, and will not go any further. For over a year the persons against us have been trying to get President Carter and the State Department to attack us – without any success. They are desperate and now feel that to convince you of their lies is the only way to destroy us. They try to influence you with the material they send you – carefully selected to suit their “audience.” For example, I am sure they did not send the outrageous lie that two “young Blacks” dragged Kathy Hunter (reporter and notorious drunkard) across the floor in her Ukiah home (a lily-white small town), and “forced” a bottle of alcohol down her throat. This was a blatant appeal to racism of the worst kind. They tailor their selections because they hope to “sell” you to their side, and they would not want any Third World nations to see such a racist lie and slur as the one described.
We have one common concern with the PNC and that is a strong feeling of unity. We will gladly take on any concern or problem of the PNC, but we cannot do so with our fullest efforts when we are also burdened by worries about the press, the pressures inflicted by the U.S. etc., and your response to those factors vis a vis our organization. We need to devote our time fully to production and could do so, if we did not feel the need to defend our socialist posture against scandalmongers whose scruples are those of an alley cat, and whose politics are opportunist at best, and reactionary as a rule.
To give but one example, let me cite the Medlocks. Here are two persons with 2 sisters, 4 nieces, a nephew, and several grand-nieces and nephews here in Guyana. Although Black themselves, they called Black persons racist names over the amateur radio, said all of Peoples Temple should be destroyed (including their own relatives), that we should be shot and bombed (including children and infants), that such a fate “couldn’t happen to better people.” Peoples Temple had educated and supported all their relatives (now in Guyana) for years, and the Medlocks lived rent free in our apartments up until a short time ago. They are now suing us for 18 million dollars over a donation of property not worth more than $30,000.00 – a sum that could not begin to balance the expenditures the Temple made for themselves and their “loved ones.” In some ways they are victims. Mentally disturbed, and no doubt senile (their stories ramble and vary from one time to the next; they have admitted that Jim helped them immeasurably. They are being manipulated by Tim Stoen – a man whom they said was organizing mercenaries against us. Also, Mr. Medlock pulled a knife on one of our black members, a real estate agent, Jim McElvane. It is amazing that out of all the thousands of Black members of our organization, he could only find these two persons to use. In many
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ways, we are in an impossible situation, because anyone who wants to create an excuse for themselves (for example Debbie Blakey, who stole at least $25,000.00 of our money before she left), can go to the press, and tell any lie they want – about Guyana or Peoples Temple – and it will be printed. They only have to read the paper to find out what lie to repeat or elaborate on.
We don’t know why we should have to defend ourselves against this tripe – mass suicides, burying people alive, etc. We came to Guyana to live, not die. It is insanity. They try to portray Jonestown as a concentration camp because such a portrayal will serve to discredit and tarnish the name of socialism. It is a part of a racist, neo-McCarthyite wave. They even went as far as to try to get the Venezuelans uneasy, by portraying us as an armed camp on the border. We urge you not to continue the futile dialogue by responding in the Guyanese media to it. The Black press of the U.S. is solidly behind us. Peoples Temple has worked to build good relations, and the thousands who have visited our community – unannounced, and on many occasions for extended periods of time – can attest that the sensationalist trash is a pack of fantastic lies that anyone but a racist or a moron could see through. Indeed, these packets are being distributed with the obvious intention to disrupt the good relations we’ve built.
Perhaps one alternative might be to have Cde. [Vibert] Mingo and a delegation from the Guyana media visit and see for themselves the kind of beautiful atmosphere on the Project. Within five minutes one could see that we are not an armed camp or concentration camp – the atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment is absolutely evident, and, contrary to lies – such a mood cannot be “staged” or “faked.” Any person can see how genuinely happy people are here. That excuse is convenient – these scandal-mongers can use it to rationalize and “explain” why the chamber of horrors they depict does not, in fact, exist. Happiness can-not be faked. Such a press visit could serve to show what things can be done with the cooperation and help of Guyana.
I am sure I have taken far too much of your time, but these matters are important to both Guyana and to Peoples Temple.
Cooperatively Yours,
/s/ William Sheldon Oliver
William Sheldon Oliver
Administrative Assistant
Cc: Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ptolemy Reid
Honorable Minister, Vibert [Vibert] Mingo
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Sharon Amos letter to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, August 3, 1978
[Peoples Temple letterhead]
3 August, 1978
The Honorable Forbes Burnham
Prime Minister
Public Buildings, Brickdam
Georgetown
Dear Prime Minister Burnham;
We in Peoples Temple are anxious to help in any way we can in the surrounding region and we are reaching out to people there every day with medical assistance. We have a young twelve year old Amerindian boy who was brought to us with glaucoma. He had an injury to his eye and glaucoma developed. We sent him at our expense to Georgetown where he stayed at our headquarters. The opthamologist said that he would have to have a cornea transplant and it couldn’t be done in Guyana. Most of the time we have been able to take care of people that come to us for help but this would be too expensive.
We are asking the United States to help but they are very slow and rarely help in situations like this. We asked the GDR [German Democratic Republic, East Germany] Embassy but they said we should write a letter and they couldn’t promise anything, but this too would be a very slow procedure. We want to help this young boy and this is the right time for the surgery to be done.
We feel like we are Guyanese nationals and try to live in every way to demonstrate this. We are just desperate on this situation. You really begin to wonder who is a socialist and who isn’t when it comes to something like a young boy’s future.
Our boat is now being used to make the regular run from Port Kaituma to Mabaruma because the Daemon is not functioning at this time. This is done every week at a great expense to us because we pay for all the expenses and we have been doing this for several weeks.
If any help can be given to this young Amerindian boy, we would be very grateful.
Cooperatively yours,
Sharon Amos
Administrative Assistant to Cde. Jim Jones
Cc: Honorable Deputy Prime Minister Ptolemy Reid
Honorable Minister Vibert Mingo
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Paula Adams letter to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, August 7, 1978
PEOPLES TEMPLE AGRICULTURAL PROJECT
P.O. Box 893, Georgetown
7 August, 1978
The Hon. Forbes Burnham
Prime Minister
Public Buildings
Georgetown
Dear Prime Minister Burnham;
I feel it is my duty to report to you the remark that Ambassador Lawrence [Laurence] Mann made during his recent stay in Guyana. I have not discussed this matter except with the one Minister who is very loyal to you and with Jim Jones. This minister thought I should stick with Bonnie [nickname for Mann] as it would be helpful to you. I taped him and told the Minister about it. He said to give the details and we did so. We kept the tape in a safe place which is neutral in case anyone should try to hurt you or Dr. Reid. We were told to keep you posted and that is what we have done.
You have to know our loyalty to you in writing this because Bonnie told me on two occasions that you told him to watch out for me. We were not bothered by that but if you did say that, obviously Bonnie shouldn’t have told me about it. However, in the future, I don’t think it would be wise to tell Bonnie to watch out for me because no-one will know anything about this except for you and the one Minister. I don’t even talk about Bonnie to our own members.
It would be disloyal of me not to report to you. The last time I wrote you about him was when he told me your plans months in advance. I didn’t think it was any of my business so I told you what he said.
I do ask for total confidentiality as Bonnie in the past has been violent to me and from what I hear his wife said he beat her. I did have a strong feeling for him in the beginning but when he talks against you, as he has on several occasions, it makes me lose respect for him. This time, he did not praise the U.S. so much which made me feel better about his loyalty to you. I wouldn’t have bothered you at all but he did say that you allowed no criticism from people in work closely with you in government and won’t take their advice. We don’t pretend to be statesmen like yourself and we don’t question your reason for keeping him as that is your business. We just don’t want him to become another [Fred] Wills, and possibly he never will be.
He told me that the ex-foreign minister Fred Wills had gone crazy and is speaking [three illegible words] the Guyana government saying you’re out to get him. Even before now, Wills had
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talked quite freely about high level people in the government. He once stated that Minister [Hubert] Jack and some other ministers were involved in some illegal claims involving gold and diamonds and other illegal money dealings. We don’t know the accuracy of these statements but this was his pattern.
Bonnie talked quite freely about the fraud situation. Before the information was made public, he told me that Minister [George] King was going to be replaced. To be objective in telling both sides, I will say that Bonnie said that you were embarrassed by what these people had done in defrauding the country, and that you felt they had let you down. He quoted you as saying, “They are what they are because of me. I put them where they are.” However, Bonnie indicated he had his hand in what happened with having King removed. Bonnie didn’t say whether King was guilty or not but said that the reason King was not directly implicated was to keep high level government from being involved in a scandal – to clear the government in other words. Bonnie speculates there will be another 100 arrests.
Bonnie told me that when Frank Noel appeared before the magistrate, he broke out in a heavy sweat and you said, “Good, let him sweat some more.”
Regarding Wilbur Bascom, Bonnie said that a tax was fixed on him to prevent him from leaving the country, but he wrote a check from another bank and left. Bonnie said there was speculation that he knew too much and that the knowledge had implicated a couple of ministers of government.
He said that an ex-minister of State from the Ministry of trade, William Haynes, had tried to leave the country about three weeks ago and he was stopped from leaving. Though the papers say he hasn’t been found, Bonnie said that you granted him permission to leave for medical care. Bonnie speculated that Haynes knew too much about corruption at a very high level. Bonnie said that people who are picked up for arrest are exposing more and more people and are “singing.”
Bonnie said that the position of Minister is a step-down for Joseph Tyndall because he drives a Mercedes Benz which he won’t be able to do as a minister. Also, he presently gets a generous housing allowance, a high salary, and all [illegible rest of paragraph]
His opinion about Minister Mingo, whom we have found to be very loyal and dedicated to you, is that he is a weak Minister
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He said that Mingo relies too heavily on the opinion of civil servants and is very weak in comparison to Minister [Desmond] Hoyte and Minister Jack, both of whom Bonnie says he knows very well.
Just recently, you called him to come and meet with you. He was concerned about what it was about but said with a smirk on his face that he wouldn’t come back to Guyana to live, and said that you would never ask him to do so. Despite the fact, theat he said Hoyte was a better minister than Mingo, he blamed Hoyte for saying things in speeches that had caused Dr. Skinner to leave the country to go to Trinidad.
I find in talking to Bonnie that some of his conversations sound like total hedonism and his preoccupation with poker could make him vulnerable because he is always complaining about losing and maybe owes the wrong people. But if you are satisfied with him it is no problem. It is not our business.
We want you to know that we would put no loyalty above loyalty to you, Dr. Reid, and Minister Mingo. We include the other two because they are totally loyal to you. We have much to learn but we have never seen a people with more loyalty than Peoples Temple has. That is why we always pass on to you anything we hear that could in any way jeopardize the future of Guyana. We know you have the situation well in control in regard to fraud in the government, and we are very pleased with your clean-up program.
Cooperatively yours,
[signed] Paula Adams
Paula Adams
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