British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa

Date: 17 Nov 1964
Updated: 7 Nov 2019

British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, announced in the House of Commons that the British government has decided to impose an embargo on the export of arms to South Africa. Outstanding commitments by the Ministry of Defence will be fulfilled, but no new contracts will be accepted. The contract to supply sixteen Buccaneer aircraft was under review. The announcement to impose arms embargo on South Africa came at bad time as the country was under huge international pressure against its policy of segregation. The country was in its third year as a republic, established on 31 May 1961 by Prime Minister HF Verwoerd.

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01Boddy-Evans A. ‘This day in African history: 17 November’, from About African History, [online], available at www.africanhistory.about.com (Accessed: 05 October 2012)
02O’Malley P. ‘1964’ from Nelson Mandela Center of Memory and Dialog, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za (Accessed: 05 October 2012)
03South African History Online, ‘The Republic of South Africa is established’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 05 October 2012)

Last updated · 7 Nov 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, November 14). British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094197

South African History Online (2012) 'British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa', South African History Online, 14 November. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094197 (Accessed: 23 August 2026).

South African History Online, British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094197, (accessed 23 August 2026).

"British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa." South African History Online, 14 Nov. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094197. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "British Prime Minister Wilson announces arms embargo on South Africa." South African History Online. November 14, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094197.