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South Africa Nuclear weapons--South Africa Clear All

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Southern Africa

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South African Nuclear History

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Nuclear Proliferation

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Vorster, B. J. (Balthazar Johannes)

1915- 1983

Brazilian Nuclear History

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Carter, Jimmy

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United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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De Klerk, F. W. (Frederik Willem)

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Sole, Donald Bell

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Mallaby, C. L. G.

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Pakistani Nuclear History

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George H.W. Bush and Lech Walesa

CIA Reports on the Collapse of Communism in Europe

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August 31, 1977	Cable from South African Embassy in the US to the South African Secretary for Foreign Affairs on South Africa and the Bomb Telegram from the South African embassy in Washington to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Pretoria in response to a Washington Post article which alleged that South African had developed an untested nuclear weapon and became "the seventh nuclear power even though it will not be recognized as such." The conclusion drawn is that the article will lead to a watershed moment in South Africa’s international relations.
August 26, 1977	Cable, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South Africa: Nuclear Bomb Charges' South African department of Foreign Affairs cable to its embassies addressing the Soviet charge that South Africa is on the precipice of developing a nuclear bomb. The message states that South Africa has no intentions of developing a weapon, that the Kalahari facility is not being used to test explosives, and that “there will not be any nuclear explosive testing of any kind in South Africa.” Attached is a copy of the Prime Ministers’ 24 August 1977 speech in Cape Town.
August 19, 1977	Letter, US Secretary of State Vance to South African Foreign Minister Botha US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance explains the evidence which lead the US to suspect that South Africa was developing nuclear weapons and developing a testing site in the Kalahari Desert.
August 18, 1977	South African Ambassador to France, 'Unofficial Translation of French Aide-Memoire' Statement from the French embassy in South Africa reaffirming their position that South Africa not pursue a nuclear weapon. Specifically, France sought a clear statement from the South African government that they not "endow [themselves] with means of proceeding with nuclear explosions” or risk continued French-South African cooperation in several areas.
August 18, 1977	Letter, US Ambassador Bowlder to South African Foreign Minister Botha Message from U.S. Ambassador Bowdler to the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Botha in which President Carter’s warning that the detonation of a South African nuclear device would have “most serious consequences” for U.S.-South African relations was conveyed.
June 2, 1976	Reply, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Sale of Two Nuclear Plants to South Africa' French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Sauvagnargues, responds to an inquiry from the National Assembly regarding France's sale of two pressurized-water reactors to South Africa.
March 1975	Memorandum, Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong, US Department of Defense, Israel-South Africa A memorandum written by Chief of the Defense Staff Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong describes South Africa's nuclear weapons systems needs and outlines the rationale for having a nuclear deterrent.
November 19, 1971	South African Nuclear Fuel Agreement U.S. State Department memorandum weighing the arguments for and against renewing the agreement to sell uranium enrichment services to South Africa. The political fallout from engaging with the South African apartheid regime coupled with the fact that they had not signed the NPT were closely considered.
July 20, 1970	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, Announcement by South African Prime Minister Vorster Announcement by South African Prime Minister Vorster outlines the country’s approach to marketing and selling enriched uranium. He describes a unique process by which South African scientists can create a highly enriched “uranium concentrate.”
March 18, 1967	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Nuclear Proliferation Problem' Summary of the United States-South Africa Atomic Energy Bilateral. South Africa's sale of source material to France was the subject of some disagreement between the two parties, with the Americans worried that sale of this material would be in violation of the non-proliferation treaty.