INVASION OF TIMOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 5

INVASION OF TIMOR

PORTUGUESE PROTEST

LONDON, February 21. A Vichy news agency correspondent reports from Lisbon that the Prime Minister, Dr. Salazar, at an extraordinary session of the Assembly announced that the Portuguese Government had issued a formal protest to Tokio against the Japanese landings in Timor. Dr. Salazar said that the earlier British and Dutch infringement of Portuguese sovereignty did not

justify Japan's action.

He paid a tribute to the loyalty of Britain in the negotiations relating to Timor, and said that unfortunately, as a result of various circumstances, a month had been lost in dispatching Portuguese troops from Mozambique to Timor to relieve the British and Dutch forces of occupation.

The Premier said that the Japanese Minister to Lisbon at 6 p.m. on February 18 presented a Note to the Portuguese, Foreign Minister announcing that the Japanese had occupied Timor for military reasons, but stating that Japan recognised Portuguese sovereignty over Timor.

Dr. Salazar added: "Japan's action represents a flagrant violation 'of Portuguese rights."

The Japanese Minister to Lisbon issued a statement that Japan is ready to guarantee the territorial integrity of Portuguese Timor, which Japan will evacuate after attaining her objective, provided that Portugal maintains her neutrality.