D-2-B-3
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears here.]
Feb. 15, 1978
Congressman Timothy Wirth
Congressman George Miller
Washington, DC
Dear Gentlemen:
The progressive stand that President Carter and his administration has taken regarding US and Caribbean affairs is one that I very much agree with. Realizing that Ambassador Young has worked diligently to establish these positive relations, I would hate to see his efforts being undermined. This, I am afraid may happen to some extent because of the presumptuous actions of one US citizen, Tim Stoen.
Mr. Stoen has misrepresented his intentions, not only to the Guyanese government officials, but to some US officials also. He is asking different people in the US government to become involved in a private custody dispute within the country of Guyana, So. America. I understand that you gentlemen were approached by Mr. Stoen and he evidently was able to misconstrue some of the facts in this case sufficiently so as to cause you to go against already existing foreign policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations.
The United States has some very effective ‘goodwill ambassadors’ in the nation of Guyana, by the name of Peoples Temple Church and Rev. James Jones. There are well over 1000 people located at the church mission site in the North West District of Guyana. The services that the various members give to the surrounding communities include access to the Temple’s doctor and entire medical staff free of cost; technical training in both agriculture and numerous mechanical area; quality education for children and adults by certified teachers on location; additional protein supply to the area, introduced by the thousands of chickens, pigs, and various livestock on the project itself, and many, many other aspects as well. Peoples Temple also carries on human service programs in their San Francisco-based church. Both the Temple and their pastor, are widely known and respected for the good works they carry on.
Please, Congressman With and Congressman Miller, reconsider your involvement in a matter which should be taken care of solely in the Guyanese courtroom without intervention from any outside forces.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gloria Davis
Past President of Black Teachers Caucus of SF
cc: President Carter
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D-2-B-4
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears here.]
Mrs. Yvonne Golden, Principal
Opportunity II High School
742 – 37th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94121
Representative Timothy Wirth
#312 Cannon House Office Bldg.
and
Representative George Miller
Longworth House Office Bldg. #1531
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Wirth and Miller:
A situation has come to my attention which I hope you will help clarify for me. Mr. Timothy O. Stoen has apparently received support from your offices in a child custody case which is being conducted in Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
In the first place, is it not within the jurisdiction of the Guyanese court system to settle this matter? Is the reason for US governmental officials to be involved in any way? I seriously question this kind of intrusion into the affairs of a sovereign nation, or is it that the internal affairs of a developing Third World nation are considered less than sovereign? Is it the business of our US elected officials to be putting pressure on the Stoen custody decision as your respective offices allegedly have done?
I am told you have signed, among a few other Congressmen, a letter on behalf of Mr. Stoen. Regardless of the circumstances of this or any other case being handled within the legal framework of a foreign country, I can see no reason whatsoever for you to have done this. I would hope that you will reconsider and somehow revoke this document.
Very sincerely yours,
/s/ Yvonne Scarlett Golden
Yvonne Scarlett Golden
Coordinator, Opportunity II Senior High School
San Francisco Unified School Dist.
cc: President Carter
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D-2-B-5
[Editor’s note: This letter also appears here.]
1409 Shrader Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
February 18, 1978
Congressman Timothy Wirth
#312 CHOB
and
Congressman George Miller
#1531 LHOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Gentlemen:
As a rank and file trade unionist in San Francisco and other cities for many years, I am very well acquainted with Rev. Jim Jones and his activist church, Peoples Temple. That this church, over a span of two decades, has successfully reached thousands of troubled youth as well as disenfranchised and needy senior citizens, can only be attributed to the man’s deep commitment to justice and an egalitarian society. His efforts have resulted in a highly acclaimed agricultural project in Guyana, South America, where hundreds of once incorrigible youth from the inner cities of the United States are now living productive lives, growing and harvesting food for hungry people – of whom there are so many in that part of the world.
Despite the visits of international delegations from many Third World and other developing nations, from top officials in the United States Department of State, all of who have left the project highly impressed, there have been some unfortunate attempts on the part of certain detractors to try to interfere with the progress there.
Namely, a Mr. Timothy Stoen, has been trying to swing the opinion of the courts in Guyana to his side of a custody case that is being tried there now. To do this, he has evidently encouraged members of Congress and the State Department of our country to take an adversary role in the issue. If this is the case, I am disappointed with our governmental officials. Recognizing that Guyana is an independent and sovereign nation, and has a legitimate complaint if United States intrudes in matters that are the country’s own internal affairs, I urge you not to endorse any sort of pressure that Mr. Stoen is trying to bring to bear on the Guyanese government or courts.
Thank you. I remain sincerely yours,
/s/ Gabriel Schack
Gabriel Schack
/s/ Yvonne V. Nahem
Yvonne V. Nahem
cc: Mr. Frank Tumminia
Pres. Carter
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D-2-B-6
[Letterhead of U.S. Rep. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke]
January 13, 1978
The Honorable Forbes Burnham
Prime Minister
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Recently I visited with the Reverend Jim Jones, Pastor of the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, in San Francisco, and had the opportunity to become acquainted with a very special project that the Temple is sponsoring in your Country.
The project of which I speak, is the Guyanese project on Jonestown (the name given the project by the Guyanese people in honor of its founder, Reverend Jones).
I am sure you are aware of the existence of the project and its efforts to assist the Guyanese Government in meeting with the basic needs of its people and in furthering humanitarian goals commonly associated with the Temple. However, I wanted to let you know how impressed and pleased I am with the dedication and the determination with which Reverend Jones and his supporters are undertaking this project and to offer my personal encouragement and best wishes for every success in this program.
Very truly yours,
YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKE
Member of Congress
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D-2-B-7
[Letterhead of U.S. Rep. Ronald Dellums]
January 18, 1978
Mr. Jim Alexander
704 – 45th Street
Oakland, California 94604
Dear Mr. Alexander:
Thank you for your letter expressing your approval of my Report to the Eighth Congressional District.
I appreciated your words of encouragement and support. I tried to provide an over view of my thoughts regarding the actions of Congress as well as detail some of the major pieces of legislation I have supported. It is heartening to receive your support for these issues and also to hear your reactions.
I also want to applaud the work done by you and the Peoples Temple and you can be assure of my full support. Again, thank you for your letter. I enjoyed hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ronald V. Dellums
Member of Congress
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D-2-B-8
[Letterhead of U.S. Rep. Don H. Clausen]
November 20th, 1973
Honorable Forbes Burnham
Prime Minister
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
Re: Reverend James Jones.
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
It is my pleasure to introduce to you an outstanding humanitarian, Reverend James W. Jones. He is the Pastor of Peoples Temple Church and will soon be visiting your country to seek permission to establish a missionary human service work there. He and his people have shown themselves to be extraordinarily responsible, industrious and compassionate working to serve people in what ever way they can.
Reverend Jones has for years carried on an exceptionally effective ministry of human service. The church has taken in senior citizens and housed them, regularly provides emergency food and services, has brought children off the street and paid for their dental and medical care, and has rehabilitated scores of young people from the use of drugs. It is fair to say that Reverend Jones and Peoples Temple epitomize the giving of self and service to others.
What ever courtesies you and your Government could extend to Reverend Jones would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much indeed.
Very truly yours,
Don H. Clausen
Member of Congress
United States of America
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D-2-B-9
[Letterhead of U.S. Rep. George Brown]
November 26, 1973
Honorable Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham
Prime Minister
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Please allow me to introduce to you Rev. James W. Jones, a most principled and
compassionate man. He and some of the directors of Peoples Temple Christian Church will be visiting Guyana soon to ask permission to set up a missionary human service work there.
This inter-racial Church is well known for a host of splendid and effective projects which help people, including drug rehabilitation, senior citizen homes, convalescent-type homes, animal shelters, free legal assistance, and emergency services. The membership includes lawyers, nurses, teachers, community workers, factory and agricultural workers, and others who have committed their lives to serving others. They are highly industrious, work well with other groups, and do good without seeking recognition for it.
This past August I was with Rev. Jones and 660 of his people in Washington, D. C., where I saw them systematically picking up the litter left by others all over the Capitol Hill area. The Washington Post was so impressed they wrote an editorial commending the group as “the hands-down winners of anybody’s tourists-of-the-year award.”
Any courtesies you could extend to Rev. Jones and the members of Peoples Temple would be deeply appreciated. Thank you very, very much.
Sincerely,
George F. Brown, Jr.
Member of Congress
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D-2-B-10
[Letterhead of the Consulate of the Republic of Guyana, Los Angeles]
December 14, 1973
Honourable Ptolemy Reid
Deputy Prime Minister
Ministry of Agriculture
Regent and Vlissengen Roads
Georgetown, Guyana
Re: Rev. James W. Jones
Your Excellency:
The bearer of this letter is the Reverend James Jones of California. I am writing this letter in order not only to introduce the Reverend Jones but to also put his Ministry in the perspective as viewed by me.
Reverend Jones is not a missionary. He is not a bible toting preacher warning the world of hell and damnation. He is a man who has built a large following upon the premise that people should get off their knees and join hands to labor in producing the things which they need for survival and betterment of themselves. In short, his teachings parallel those of our concepts of a Cooperative Republic.
He is desirous of working in Guyana and has at his disposal men and women possessing a wide variety of skills. These skills are at the disposal of our nation if he and his followers could be made welcome. He and his group will be in Guyana for a few weeks and I earnestly solicit your assistance in order that he may visit the length and breadth of the country as well as engage in meaningful dialogue with you vis a vis his plans.
My Ruth joins me in wishing you and your Ruth the compliments of the coming Season.
I am, with great truth, Sir, your obedient servant.
Claude Vibart Worrell, Sr.
HONORARY CONSUL
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D-2-B-11
[Letterhead of San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto]
December 7, 1973
To Whom These Presents May Come:
Greetings
These presents will serve to introduce and identify Reverend James W. Jones, Pastor of Peoples Temple Christian Church, probably the largest single Protestant Church in the State of California. The Church has a California membership of over 10,000. Pastor Jones’ social service programs are extremely supportive of local law enforcement, and his members hold important positions in local government.
Reverend Jones contemplates a visit to British Guiana during the early part of December, and I respectfully trust he will receive every courtesy and consideration during his sojourn.
For purposes of identification his signature appears below.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Joseph L. Alioto
Joseph L. Alioto
Mayor
James W. Jones
/s/ James W. Jones
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D-2-B-12
[Editor’s note: A discussion of this document, California State Senate Resolution Commending Peoples Temple, appears as a Primary Source at http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=14023.]
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