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North America

United States

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Southern Africa

South Africa

South African Nuclear History

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Middle East

Israel

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Philip, Peter H.

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Photograph of President Ronald Reagan

Reagan, Ronald

1911- 2004

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Botha, R. F. (Roelof Frederik) ("Pik")

1932-

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Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

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Western Europe

Great Britain

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Carter, Jimmy

1924-

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Sole, Donald Bell

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Western Europe

France

Israeli Nuclear History

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Kissinger, Henry

1923-

Nuclear Proliferation

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1956	South African Cabinet Memorandum, Research in the Field of Nuclear Energy and Exchanging Information with Friendly Nations South African Cabinet memorandum discussing the potential for nuclear cooperation and technology assistance from various friendly countries, including the United States, Great Britain, and the Netherlands.
March 30, 1960	Letter, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, Informing the United States of South Africa's Intent to Request Nuclear Materials P. H. Philip of the South African Department of Foreign Affairs writes to the US Ambassador to South Africa informing him that South Africa will formally apply to the United States Atomic Energy Commission by June 1st 1960 for nuclear materials, pursuant to the bilateral trade agreement between the US and the Union of South Africa.
April 28, 1960	South African Report, 'Union-United States Cooperation in Nuclear Field: Financial Assistance' A summary of an exchange of telegrams between the US Embassy in South Africa and the US Legation in Vienna discussing the US position on any formal request by the Union of South Africa for nuclear materials.
September 29, 1976	Discussion between SWAPO with Dr Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State, in New York Dr. Kissinger expresses his proposal for a conference on Namibia to be attended by SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization), Turnhalle members, and South Africa. The Conference concerned the ongoing struggle for independence by Namibian guerrillas from South African rule. Kissinger pledged US support to SWAPO as the leading force in Namibia, but Namibian delegates responded that they would not attend the conference unless South Africa met all preconditions including the withdrawal of troops from Namibian territory.
August 31, 1990	Letter from South African President De Klerk to President Bush South African President De Klerk writes to U.S. President George H.W. Bush in reply to the latter’s 24 July, 1990 letter regarding South Africa’s accession to the NPT. The letter explicitly states South Africa’s commitment to disarmament and suggests the possibility of “declaring South Africa a nuclear weapons free zone.”
March 20, 1981	Report, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South African-United States' Nuclear Relations' Background on US-South African nuclear relations and uranium cooperation from the end of the Second World War to the early 1980s. Also addressed is the Vela incident of September 1979 and the international community’s backlash against the South African government.
March 1981	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Directive for Discussions of Nuclear Matters with United States Authorities' 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 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 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	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.