short of openly testing and d.eploying nuclear l.reapons. Instead., adopting a strategy of l-at ent prol-iferation, it cou-Id covertly stockpile veapons and reJ-y, much as Israel is thought by many observers to have done, on rmconfirrned but vid.eJ"y credited Tr]]rou-TS that it had those lreapons in order to further its purposes. 98/ Jaster. South Africars llarrowing Security Options, p. 34. 9O-l ou"tr.n ."- ;(rtgjr-, -aalr;"at ^;tr"" a-**".t ". pp. 642-51+l+t Betts, lrA Diplonatic Bonb for South Africa?"' pp. 101-105; Lewis A. Dunn " rrHalf-Past rndiars Bang", Foreisn Policv, No. 35 1ru"lr leTg), p. 78. IOC/ Betts" "A Diplonatic Bonb ror ;.;o rfh Alrjca'/rr " Pp. 10Jl-105; Jaster, So-uTli-Aff icar s l{arrov-ing Se c uri-tll lSbj o!-E-, p . l*: . IC. South AfricaIs nuclear d.ecLaratory llol i-c-v- 65. Public and selri-private statenents by South Africats feadership on the subiect of nuclear-weapon acquisition have been ambiguous, sc,me past statements, 43" for instance, the lrord.s of the new Presid.ent of the South African Atonic Energv Board., -Dr, J, i{, L- de villiers " asse?t that ':werre not interested in anything /other than/ the peacef\t apllication of nuclear enetgy". l9f/ lv contrast " there are other statements siroilar to that of forner Infornation and Interior Minister Cornelius F" l4ulder contending that: "Tf we are attacked., no rul-es apply at all if it comes to a question of our existence. Iie will use all neans at our disposal-' whatever they uay be" Tt is true that ve have Just completed cur own pilot plant that uses very ailvanced technology" and that ve have neJor r:ranir:n resources." !!{ Or, in the ltord-s of the Finance Minister, Orlen }lorwood: 'I, for one, leJect absolutely and entilely that anyone shou.lil tell- us vhat we shoul-d do /vith our nuclear potential.rr.-/ 103/