The possession of nuclear lreapons by the racist r6gime of pretoria wouldconstitute a most direct threat to the security of the African states: it wourdlead to a sharp escalation of instability and tension in southern Africa andwould increase the nucfear threat to all nanhirr_].. '|he a.ction tah--n bv itrea.uthorities of the nepublic of south Africa to acquire nucrear rreapons_ r^rith thesupport of c-ortain states, is at variance with the efforts nade by nany countriesand the united ltrations to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons thToughoutthe r,rorfd- This action is incornpatible with the d.enands of African countries,a.s embodied in Ljnited ;\r.tions decisions for the conversion of the Africancont,inent j.nto a nuclear-free zone. By choosing to produce its or,rn nuclearrneapons, the Republic of South Africa has issued a challenge to a1I peoples " TASS is authorized to nake the folroving statenent, The nanufacture ofnuc]ear weapons in the nepublic of scuth Africa woul-d have the most serious andfar-.reaching implications for international peace and the security of peoples. The leadership of the soviet union feer-s that the most urgent and effectiv,oefforts on the part of all states the unitecr r\rations anrl international putrlicopinion, are needed in o.der tc frev€nt the prod.uction of nu.lcrt verLpons in theRepublic or $outtr Africa :r11 to --vert tne d.anger of the proliferation of suchl/ea.pons ' The soviet unr'.on, which hes consistently and resolutely advocated stepsto avert the threat of a nucrear war, is willing, for its part, in co-operationwith other staLes b., aI possible rneans to prorrote the achievement of this g-oa1"At 3) | qut Annex ,tsdge 42 A.a.APPENDTX II Statement made by the Minister for foreign Affairs of Fran:e, -_- -_ - ------,,--*, --. _-_--_.- -*___, --*__3__Ln--eI ,22 Aueust I97"( . I^le learned a fe\r r.omenLs aso that the French Govet-nnenh and you yourself had approached the South African authorities because of uore precise indications accofding to the text given us - that South Africa intend.ed, to manufacture atomic bombs. This intention is mentioned in a statement by the Tass News Agency on 9 Autust 1977. Can you give us sone inforunation regarding bhjs matter?