190436Z NOV 78
FM SAN FRANCISCO (89-NEW) (P) (SQUAD 10)
TO DIRECTOR, FBI IMMEDIATE
LOS ANGELES IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS E F T O
PEOPLE’S TEMPLE– REVEREND JIM JONES, 1859 GEARY BOULEVARD, SAN FRANCISCO; CAS – CONSPIRACY; POSSIBLE AFO; 00: SAN FRANCISCO.
Re San Francisco teletype to Bureau November 19, 1978, captioned “People’s Temple, information concerning, 89 – new”.
Interviews conducted this date at Human Freedom Center, 3028 Regent Street, Berkeley, California, with seven former members of the People’s Temple (PT), six of these interviewed were former members of the Planning Commission, which is an inner circle of the PT. Three former Planning Commission members furnished signed statements. The Human Freedom Center houses former members of the PT and lists as its purpose to assist former members of cult groups to readjust to society.
PAGE TWO SF 89-NEW UNCLAS E F T O
All persons interviewed stated the Reverend Jim Jones coerced them into making written statements to kill President Nixon and also statements incriminating themselves in criminal or immoral acts. Part of the duties of the Planning Commission members were to pick up these written statements from members and deliver them to Reverend Jones who used these statements to insure the members[‘] involvement in the PT movement.
All persons interviewed stated the PT have a continuing program of the collection and caching of firearms, also in engaging in firearms training in Ukiah, California and San Francisco areas. Reverend Jones promoted the threat or actual use of violence to keep members in line from any outside intrusion.
The former members interviewed identified a number of individuals who are “core” and “hit men” who were directed by Jones.
Allegations were received that numerous weapons shipments are made from United States Temple members to Reverend Jones PT movement in Guyana. Further, that a large weapons cache is still located in the PT in San Francisco.
PAGE THREE SF 89-NEW UNCLAS E F T O
Certain Planning Commission members stated they heard the Reverend Jim Jones on several occasions urge the creation of a “contingency plan” would go into effect in the event of his arrest or capture. Jones instructed PT members to make plans to kidnap public officials and hold them hostage until his release was secured. No evidence has been obtained from former members interviewed to date that such a plan was formulated or that any persons have been designated for such a plan[‘]s execution. However, those interviewed stated that persons who would be involved in such a plan are still among the core of the PT both in Guyana and San Francisco.
Information being furnished to Los Angeles inasmuch as a former active PT existed at the intersection of Hoover and Alvarado Streets in Los Angeles, California and possible interviews may be requested in that division.
Investigation continuing at San Francisco.
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