TIMOR NOT FOR SALE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 15, 12 October 1932, Page 9

TIMOR NOT FOR SALE

Report Officially Denied (Rec. October 11, 11.15 p.m.) London, Oct. 10. Regarding the assertion that Japan is seeking to acquire the Portuguese section of the island of Timor, naval experts say that with Timor plus the Carolines Japan could straddle Australia. eventually offsetting the value of Singapore. The Japanese Ambassador said: " e are quite uninformed as to such an intention.” The Dutch Embassy said the same. , , , The Portuguese Embassy declared that it was unthinkable that Portugal should sell Timor. Possibly Japan contemplated overtures, but would get little satisfaction. Public opinion in Portugal, despite military dictatorship, would not tolerate the sale. “It can be said without even communicating with Lisbon that the transfer of Timor is unlikely.” the Embassy added. A Hague message stales that the report lias been received with scepticism. The “Rofterdamsche Cournut” reveals that Article 13 in the Dutch-Portu-guese Treaty. 1904. gives Holland preference In any transfer of rights, while both agreed in an exchange of Notes in 1897 not to concede to any third Power the right to establish coaling or marine stations in the East Indies. According to <i Lisbon message the Portuguese Foreign Minister says the report is incorrect.