355. Telegram From the Department of State to the Consulate in Cape Town1
85899. Cape Town for Embassy, hold for Ambassador’s arrival. Subject: Nuclear Issue.
1. (S) you should take early opportunity with Brand Fourie to probe current SAG intentions toward a nuclear settlement, drawing on following talking points which may be left with Fourie as a note verbale:
[Page 1080]—As we indicated on January 24,2 we need to decide whether we are going to move forward on the proposals Gerry Smith discussed with you last June.3
—We are confident that with a favorable decision by you now on the Joint Minute4 the procedures we must go through to meet our part of the bargain—congressional review and licensing of the fuel shipments by the NRC—will pose no obstacle to continuing nuclear fuel supply to South Africa.
—However, in the continuing absence of a response, there is a tendency to conclude that the SAG has no serious interest in the kind of settlement discussed last June.
—Moreover, people in Washington are concerned that the continuing operation of Valindaba, which we have to assume can produce bomb-grade material, is beginning to make it difficult to maintain support for continued nuclear cooperation.
—We appreciate your concern that safeguards not prejudice your enrichment technology proprietary rights and your desire for a full technical preview of this safeguards problem.
—We think that your decision to accept the safeguards development program envisaged in the Joint Minute will not prejudge technical review of the safeguards issue.
—The important thing to do in the time we have left is to set the political framework in which we can begin that review and get fuel delivered to Safari.
—We hope you will give this matter serious consideration and give us a response soon.
—If, however, there are specific reasons why your government is unable to give us a response at this time, it would be in your interest to set forth these reasons so that they can be taken into account when judgements are made in Washington on the status and prospects for continuation of the nuclear discussions.
2. (U) Septel will address points raised by SAG in previous exchanges on nuclear issue.5
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 116, 4/1–13/79. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Sent for information to the White House. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Locke. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])↩
- See Document 352.↩
- See Documents 343–345.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 343.↩
- Not found.↩