0 182331Z DEC 78
FM DETROIT (89-247) (P)
TO DIRECTOR (89-4286) ROUTINE
SAN FRANCISCO (89-250) ROUTINE
BT
UNCLAS EFTO
RYMUR.
Re Detroit phone call to the Bureau taken by SA [Name deleted] dated December 14, 1978. San Francisco teletype to Bureau, dated December 14, 1978.
Numerous attempts to contact [Name deleted] negative December 14, 1978. [Name deleted] contacted afternoon December 14, 1978, and stated he contacted [Name deleted], a citizen of Guyana, November 25, 1978, via hand [ham] radio. [Name deleted] owns and operates an [employment withheld] in Georgetown, Guyana.
During conversation between [2 names deleted], [Name deleted] became aware that [Name deleted] was a reporter for
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the Detroit News. [Name deleted] stated that he had some information of a “delicate nature” concerning the Jonestown incident and stated it will be worth [Name deleted] effort to travel to Guyana and discuss the specifics. [Name deleted] indicated he did not wish to discuss the specifics over the air. [Name deleted] furnished his telephone number to [Name deleted].
On November 26, 1978, [Name deleted] contacted [Name deleted] via telephone, and [Name deleted] repeated the same conversation they had had the day prior, avoiding specifics. [Name deleted] added that he felt the authorities in Guyana were monitoring the airwaves and telephone equipment, therefore, any discussions between [Name deleted] and himself would be intercepted. [Name deleted] implied that the Guyanese government may not want the complete truth of the Jonestown Internet to be known.
[Name deleted] stated that Guyana had six (6) hand radio operators prior to the Jonestown incident, all of which are familiar to [Name deleted]. [Name deleted] stated there were (2) ham operators in Jonestown, one being
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Albert Touchette, who is now deceased. [Name deleted] also told [Name deleted] that there was another individual by the name of [Name deleted] In Guyana. [Name deleted] indicated to [Name deleted] that he [Name deleted] travelled frequently to the United States and perhaps they could meet in the States to discuss, in detail, the information known to [Name deleted] .
[Name deleted] displayed a cooperative attitude towards interviewing agents at Detroit, but expressed concern about Guyanese officials identifying [Name deleted] and contacting him regarding his knowledge of the incident.
On December 18, 1978, [Name deleted] advised he had sought approval of his employer, the Detroit News, to travel to Guyana to interview [Name deleted] for the purpose of developing a news story. The Detroit News will not authorize after weighing the probable news value of [Name deleted] information.
[Name deleted] was advised that the FBI would not become involved in his efforts to gain information known to [Name deleted]. [Name deleted] indicated a desire to obtain
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the information and stated he would gladly furnish any information obtained in [to] the FBI. Again, [Name deleted] was advised that the FBI would not conduct any investigation involving [Name deleted] other than that conducted through prescribed governmental channels.
[Name deleted] stated he would contact FBI, Detroit in approximately one week.
San Francisco at San Francisco, California.
Will furnish Detroit with specific questions of investigative interest regarding ham radio operations in Guyana.
Detroit at Detroit, Michigan.
Will, if not recontacted by [Name deleted], initiate contact and attempt to obtain address and telephone number for [Name deleted].
Armed and dangerous – suicidal tendencies.
BT