PORTUGUESE TIMOR.

Evening Star, Issue 25034, 29 November 1943, Page 2

PORTUGUESE TIMOR.

Ruthless measures by the Japanese in the island of Timor are revealed by the Portuguese Prime Minister (Dr Salazar). Timor, which is in the Malay Archipelago, was right in the line of the Japanese advance towards Australia, and this small island, with practically no defences, could offer little resistance to the invaders, who in the two years since their landing have behaved with characteristic brutality. Murder, robbery, and devastation followed the occupation, according to Dr Salazar, who made this accusation when addressing the National Assembly in Lisbon. It is suggested in a' cable message from London that important diplomatic developments are expected to follow the revelations that have been made. These were slow in coming to hand because of the rigorous control of communications.by the enemy. The radio station was seized and code communications to the Portuguese Governor of the island were not permitted. One result is that the Lisbon Government has been kept very much in the dark as to what was happening in Timor. Now, through reports made'by refugees reaching Australia, some knowledge has been gained of conditions prevailing, and a dark picture is presented of the paralysis of trade, the ruination of the harvest, and a lack of the necessaries of life among the natives and the small white population. The actions of the Japanese are inexcusable, for they constitute an act of unprovoked and ruthless war against a nation that had maintained an attitude of strict neutrality. The developments are certainly calculated to drive Portugal into active hostility against Japan. One interesting remark made by Dr Salazar was that Portugal is receiving British war material without payment in return for the use of bases in the Azores by the Allies. When the announcement of this concession was made the Portuguese Government took vigorous defence measures. These were speeded up on.the receipt of protests by Germany and Japan, and the Nazis angrily served notice that they reserved the right to take retaliatory action. The Berlin radio called Portugal's act a " severe violation of neutrality." The Japanese were shocked, one of their spokesmen saying that the Allied acquisition of the Azores bases was one more example of Anglo-American violation of international law. Germany appears to be anxious not to break with Portugal, for under present conditions Lisbon is a useful clearing house for the Nazis. Such a consideration would ■ not influence Japan in the event of a threat of a rupture of the relations at present existing. '