307. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in South Africa and the White House1
218572. Subject: South African Nuclear Assurances. Refs: (A) State 215867;2 (B) Paris 26349;3 (C) Pretoria 4683.4
1. As you know from ref (A) the President has approved further steps to obtain tangible action by the SAG to supplement its verbal assurances of peaceful nuclear intentions. Assistant Secretary Moose will be calling in SAG Ambassador here early this week to receive a demarche from Ambassador Gerard Smith urging South Africa to (1) make an immediate commitment to the NPT including a formal public statement of intent; and (2) unilaterally submit the Valindaba Plant to IAEA safeguards as an interim measure.
2. If our conditions are met, the US would agree to supply LEU for the Koeburg reactors. However, for the present, US will not agree to supply HEU under any conditions. Before any commitment is made for further supply of HEU, the President wishes to see solid evidence of the SAG’s willingness to cooperate.
3. We have informed the French of our approach and asked them to support it, if possible by a parallel demarche indicating the difficulty they would face in supplying the Koeburg reactors if South Africa fails to accept and implement our package. While they will find it difficult to associate themselves directly with the NPT aspect of our demarche, ref (B) indicates they may support the overall approach.
[Page 931]4. We are also informing London and Bonn and seeking reiteration of their demarches on the NPT and the need for Valindaba safeguards. We plan to inform Moscow of our approach at about the time it is made. We will also keep the Canadians, Japanese and Nigerians informed.
5. Text of current draft of aide-memoire which Ambassador Smith will be presenting in Washington follows. Request your views on whether it would be desirable for you to make a simultaneous approach in Pretoria in the form of a letter to Botha from the Secretary noting our appreciation for the three assurances given by Prime Minister Vorster and mentioning that Ambassador Smith will be talking with Sole regarding our specific concerns.
6. Text: Quote The United States welcomes the three assurances given by the Prime Minister of South Africa on August 24 as an important contribution to reassuring the international community that South Africa is not considering the acquisition or development of nuclear explosives.
7. Quote The United States notes that the Prime Minister further stated on August 24 that he was willing to discuss the accession of South Africa to the Nonproliferation Treaty. In this connection, the United States wishes to cooperate with the Government of South Africa to resolve questions that recently arose over South Africa’s nuclear intentions and to offset world uncertainty on this issue and the effects of Soviet propaganda.
8. Quote To build on the good beginning that South Africa has made, the United States urges the Government of South Africa promptly to make a public statement of its intent to adhere to the Nonproliferation Treaty and take the steps necessary for accession at the earliest opportunity.
9. Quote The United States believes that adherence to the Nonproliferation Treaty will serve the interests of South Africa as well as provide vital reassurances to the international community of South Africa’s commitment exclusively to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
10. Quote Notwithstanding that important action, we believe international concern will persist if some international inspection of the Valindaba enrichment plant does not speedily commence. Pending development of safeguard arrangements pursuant to the NPT, the United States urges South Africa promptly to arrange for interim international safeguards at Valindaba. Immediately following a South African request for interim international safeguards, we would be prepared, if desired, to send qualified technical personnel to work with South African and IAEA personnel in devising procedures for effective safeguards, and, if IAEA is not prepared to conduct an inspection of Valindaba at that time, to assist in making other appropriate arrangements for that purpose. The United States understands South Africa’s concern [Page 932] for the protection of proprietary information relating to its enrichment process. We are prepared to discuss any realistic arrangement to meet this concern, but are convinced that urgent action is necessary.
11. Quote The United States will continue to review the situation, including the status of the Kalahari site. We are concerned about continuing activities at that site. The United States will view with the utmost gravity any activity which appears to be inconsistent with previous assurances.
12. Quote The United States considers that the steps outlined above are necessary to allay the serious international concern that has arisen over South Africa’s nuclear intentions and would allow the United States to supply low-enriched uranium fuel for the two power reactors under contract from France. End quote.
13. Re points in ref C., we have decided for tactical reasons not to attempt direct response to questions Vorster listed in August 24 speech5 as we are unable at this time to give SAG satisfaction on any of these except for supply of low-enriched uranium (assuming our conditions are met) and will have to respond negatively if SAG insists on having highly enriched (weapons grade) uranium. See para 2 above.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 108, 9/1–4/77. Secret; Sensitive; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Sent Immediate to the White House. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by McCormick (AF/S); cleared by Moose, Petterson, Locke, Kelley (S/AS), Kahan, Nye, Williamson, and Edmondson; approved by Christopher. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840070–0329)↩
- In telegram 215867 to Paris, September 9, the Department shared the démarche Gerard Smith made to South African Ambassador Sole and instructed the Embassy to seek French support for the U.S. approach and a parallel démarche to the South African Government. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840076–0887)↩
- In telegram 26349 from Paris, September 10, the Embassy informed the Department that Quai Political Director De Laboulayé was briefed on September 9: “De Laboulaye gave no indication of substantive problem with our request for parallel support and said he would try to give us the GOF response on Monday.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840086–2508)↩
- In telegram 4683 from Pretoria, September 10, the Embassy expressed concern that the South African Government would not meet U.S. demands without a commitment to supply fuel for the Safari I reactor. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840090–2351)↩
- In telegram 4369 from Pretoria, August 25, the Embassy transmitted the text of Vorster’s August 24 speech. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770307–0898)↩