369. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Cape Town1

7486. For Ambassador Edmondson from Ambassador Smith. Subject: US-South African Nuclear Relations.

1. Following is report of Ambassador Gerard Smith’s January 8 conversation with Ambassador Sole for your information.

2. Begin text: I told him that I expected the press report would be in soon. I thought it would find there wasn’t sufficient evidence to conclude that a nuclear event had occurred. I personally would like to see us now resume the effort to reach something like the agreement foreshadowed in the Joint Minute reached in 1978 in Pretoria.2 I said that it would be helpful if the South African authorities could make an unequivocal denial of responsibility for the September event. Sole said that their Finance Minister had made a flat denial when he was in Washington. He said he would look into the question of a further statement but that nothing would be possible until after the results of the press report were available. He added that if the South Africans had tested, it would have been underground since they are bound by the Limited Test Ban Treaty, the fulfillment of which they consider a matter of great importance.

3. He did not seem interested in pursuing the lead about further negotiations. He mentioned South African concern as to the reliability of US assurances of supply, an idea he believed he had put to Dick Moose about the possibility of stockpiling US enriched uranium in South Africa so that the South Africans could have assurance of its availability. I had not heard of that idea, but would look into it.

4. On Koeburg, Sole said if necessary the reactors would be put in mothballs.

5. After the IAEA credentials matter at New Delhi, SAG is considering whether to leave the Agency. I expressed understanding at SAG chagrin and hoped they wouldn’t depart. End text.

6. Department expects to provide you instructions for next steps on this subject very shortly.

Vance
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 120, 1/10–14/80. Secret; Sensitive; Priority; Nodis. Sent for information to Pretoria and the White House. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted and approved by Gerard Smith; cleared by Macfarlane (AF/S). (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870058–0003)
  2. See footnote 2, Document 344.