0 271052Z NOV 78
FM MEMPHIS (89-110) (P)
TO DIRECTOR PRIORITY
COLUMBIA PRIORITY
SAN FRANCISCO PRIORITY
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
RYMUR
Re ASAC, Memphis, telcall to FBIHQ, November 27, 1978.
On November 27, 1978, Mark Lane made available to ASAC Richard A. Blay a manuscript comprised of 49 pages which recounts his recollection of the events leading to and during the massacre at Jonestown. Lane stressed the need to keep the contents confidential. Lane was assured the dissemination will be held to an absolute minimum consistent with the FBI’s investigative needs but under no conditions would the contents be divulged. It is obvious the contents are a portion of a new book being written by Lane. Lane has agreed to make himself available for interview. He indicated he will be unavailable Tuesday,
PAGE TWO (ME 89-110) UNCLAS E F T O
November 28, 1978, as Barbara Walters is doing a profile on him. He remarked he has recently turned down appearances on Face the Nation and other shows. Lane was told that his manuscript would be reviewed not only at Memphis but by those within the FBI familiar with this investigation so that any questions raised could be resolved in a minimum number of contacts. Lane expressed agreement with this proposed interview format.
Agent [deleted name], Secret Service, Memphis, was present during interview with Lane. A copy of the manuscript furnished by Lane has been given to Secret Service.
Memphis does not anticipate further contact with Lane until manuscript has been reviewed and areas of concern needing clarification or necessary questions to be answered are identified.
The following is a verbatim copy of manuscript furnished by Mark Lane:
[Editor’s note: The contents of the diary were withheld for 39 years. The document was released in 2017 and appears on this website here.]