1893-1976
Eastern Europe
(372) documents
North America
Southern Africa
East Asia
Middle East
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1911- 2004
1932-
1924-
1923-
March 4, 1981
South African Ambassador Donald Sole reports on the possible effect of Reagan non-proliferation policy on South African/US nuclear relations.
January 21, 1979
Forwarded to Ralph Earle, Director of US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. The Interagency Intelligence Memorandum on the 22 September 1979 explosion, or Vela Incident, concludes that it was a nuclear explosion.
October 31, 1977
J .E. Holmes, at the UK Embassy in Moscow, reports on Soviet news coverage of the South African nuclear controversy.
October 25, 1977
UK Embassy in Pretoria reports on South African President Vorster’s remarks on nuclear matters to ABC television.
October 24, 1977
The South African Embassy in Washington reports on assurances to the US on South Africa's nuclear intentions
September 19, 1977
Summary of Washington Star newspaper article on Carter administration concerns that South Africa was developing nuclear weapons.
October 1977
South African Prime Minister Vorster denies the existence of a South African nuclear program and lists hostile steps taken by the United States to exclude South Africa from international nuclear and atomic energy groups. He concludes that "it would seem... the United States officially holds the view that stability in Southern Africa and the future of our country is to be sacrificed in the hope of stopping Soviet expansionism."
September 22, 1977
In response to Mallaby's letter, Reid dismisses the American explanation for the South African Kalahari nuclear testing facility. He believes that the South Africans "feel increasingly threatened and foresee a possible need to use nuclear weapons in their own defence if it should come to that."
September 1977
Nye stated that at present the United States preferred to "concentrate on pressing South Africa to adhere to the NPT rather than continuing to enquire about the nature of the Kalahari facility." The State Department assessment was that while South Africa was capable of building a bomb at short notice, they did not actually plan to test one at this time.
September 8, 1977
J.S. Wall of the UK Foreign and Commonweath Office reports on a conversation with David Aaron of the US National Security Council on concerns about South Africa's possible nuclear testing facility in the Kalahari desert.
