1893-1976
Eastern Europe
(372) documents
Southern Africa
North America
-
Western Europe
Middle East
1911- 2004
1915- 1983
1924-
March 1981
A memorandum in advance of a meeting between U.S. and South African policymakers which outlines South Africa’s intention to adhere to the principles and spirit of the NPT, and concerns about the supply of fuel for the Koeberg and SAFARI-1 reactors
August 26, 1977
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
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
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.
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.
July 20, 1970
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.”
May 1967
Summary of the communication between South African and American policymakers regarding the renewal of the Atomic Energy Cooperation Agreement. The renewal of the previous agreement was contingent on South Africa reforming its safeguards policy and modeling them after the Canadian and US policies.
March 18, 1967
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.