S.A. bitterly attacks Western ‘hypocrisy’

Press, 26 August 1977, Page 6

S.A. bitterly attacks Western ‘hypocrisy’

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town

! The South African Prime • Minister (Mr John Vorster) I has parried allegations that the republic is to build an atomic bomb by accusing the West of double standards. The outside world had found one excuse after another to attack South Africa and try and pressurise it, Mr Vorster told a packed meeting of his ruling National Party at the Cape Town City Hall yesterday. Responding to allegations by the Soviet Union, taken up by the United States, Fiance, and other countries, that South Africa planned to test an atomic device, the Prime Minister said the Russians were reported to have just exploded their fifth nuclear device this year. “Such are the double standards to which South Africa is exposed,” Mr Vorster! said. “If these continue, the!

[time will come when South Africa will say, ‘So far, and: no further — you can do’ your damnedest'.” The Prime Minister accused the United States of reneging on an agreement to supply South Africa with fuel for nuclear power stations. Mr Vorster said that South Africa was considering signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and was prepared to discuss it with the United States, but! the talks would have to sort) out the question of nuclear 1 fuel supplies from America; that had been paid for but' not delivered. The Prime Minister said' the fuel had been ordered and paid for two years ago. ) Mr Vorster said it was] laughable that the republic,! a founder member of the! International Atomic Energy) Authority, had been “kicked out because we were al leg-1

edly backward in the nuclear i field.” ! He said South African ! scientists had developed a successful uranium enrichment process which had been offered for peaceful purposes to other countries. “But we were ignored, now suddenly we are accused of wanting to explode a nuclear bcmb,” he added. "Although South Africa has not acceded to the nonproliferation treaty, it does [not mean we have not sue- 1 jceeded with preventing i proliferation,” Mr Vorster ’said. I Mr Vorster warned his ! audience that South Africa ; would be tested as never before in the coming months, but that the electorate I should have faith that the !Government would find the ; right answers. I "We have a calling to be [in Africa, we are not at the jend of the road, but at the I very beginning,” he said. ;