PORTUGUESE TIMOR

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1941, Page 5

PORTUGUESE TIMOR

INVADED BY DUTCH

“To Forestall Japanese”

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable. Assn.l LONDON, December 18. The occupation by Dutch and Australian forces of the island of Portuguese Timor, 450 miles from Darwin, is announced in a communique issued by the Netherlands East Indies Government. It stated:. “In view of Japanese submarine activity off Portuguese Timor, it became unavoidably necessary to take steps to safeguard this territory against Japanese aggression, and forestall its use as a base from which attacks could be made on Allied territory and communications. Accordingly, a force of Allied troops has been landed on Portuguese Timor.” Reports from Lisbon say that Dutch and Australian troops have entered Portuguese Timor. Timor is half Dutch and half Portuguese, and is within air range of Port Darwin, which is 450 miles aistant. There have recently been reports of Japanese naval and air activity near Timor, and Japanese submarines have been sighted off Dutch Timor.

Al British Foreign Office’ commentator said: “Even before the European war, Japan showed increasing interest in gaining a foothold in Portuguese Timor. To this end, the Japanese Government did what it could to persuade the Portuguese Government to transfer t 0 them the oil concessions prevously granted to an Australian firm. The Portuguese stood legally on the engagement, however, and eventually a concession to prospect for oil in the eastern half of the island was taken over by a combine of the major oil companies, including Sheik Standard. Vaccum, and Anglo-Iranian. At the end of 1940, the Portuguese Government granted facilities to the Australian Quantas Airways to call at th‘e capital of Dilli, and from tne beginning of [this year, an Australian flying boat has called once a fortnight in both directions, on the way between Darwin and Singapore. During jthe same period, the Portuguese Government agreed to a series of trial flights by tne Japanese air service from Japan to Portuguese Timor, via Palao. in the Japanese Mandated Islands. . Meanwhile, evidence continued to accumulate of Japanese attempts to establish themselves in Timor by quasi-commercial means. In October, 1941, the Portuguese Government signed an air agreement with the Japanese Government, granting facilities for a Japanese air line at Dilli. The Japanese used this occasion tn send a delegation of officials to Dilli, and obtained from the Portuguese recognition of the establishment of a Japanese consulate there. It will be recalled that delegations were sent bv the Japanese with no doubt similar aims, in the past, to Batavia and Indo-China. The Portuguese Government have rightly pointed out that the facilities which the’’ granted to the Japanese air line were analogous to those granted to Quantas Airways, but this was relative to neighbouring territories — Australia and the Dutch ’East Indies. While Timor is more or less on the direct, line from Darwin to Singapore, there is n 0 justification whatever. on commercial grounds, for the establishment of an air-line from Timor to Palao, and the objective can only bv? strategic. Since the outbreak of war with Japan, it is obvious that Portuguese Timor has com e into the danger zone, and in view of the Japanese activities recorded above, the danger was very real. Japan has acted swiftly on a number of points in the opening phases of this new war. She nas shown a complete disregard of the neutrality of any country, whom she felt strong enough to coerce, and nothing would be more likely than that she would attack Portuguese Timor t with the object of establishing a base from which to reach Australa, and the neighbouring Dutch territories.

In recent months the Japanese caused concern in Australia by uncommercial activities in Timor. They extended their airline from the Pacific island of Paula (Pelew) to Dilli, in Portuguese Timor, and serft representatives to reinforce the local consulate.

PORTUGUESE OBJECT. TO THE INVASION. LONDON, December 18. The Portuguese Government, having reaffirmed the desire to preserve neutrality, the local authorities of Portuguese Timor have objected to the action being taken. Portuguese sovereignty remains intact, and it has been made clear to the Portuguese Government that the troops will be withdrawn as soon as the threat is removed, since their presence is purely a measure'of defence on the part of the Allied nations at war with Japan. The Portuguese Government, in a communique, states: The Cabinet yesterday discussed grave events which are reported to have occurred in Portuguese Timor. The Cabinet is awaiting a clarification of tne positon jbefore deciding on its attitude. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SILENT. (Rec. 12.46). CANBERRA, Dec. 19. The Federal Government is at present making no statement in regard to the landing of the Australian and Dutch troops on Timor Island. JAP ISLAND. BOMBED BY AUSTRALIANS. LONDON. December 18. The Australian Air Board -says that aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force successfully bombed Japanese installations at Greenwich Island. Japanese aircraft attempted interception. but were driven off. One enemy aircraft was damaged in the course of a low attack. N.S.W. COASTAL BLACKOUT. SYDNEY, December 19. All lights visible from the sea in the coastal areas of Sydney, Newcastle. Port Kembla, and Wollongong. must in future be screened or extinguished, according to orders issued by the New South Wales Government. All outside lights g.re banned, except at war factories.

50 Millions More

AUSTRALIA’S WAR COSTS

(Rec. 12.30). CANBERRA, Dec. 19.

Japan’s entrv into the war has already involved the Australian Government in an additional expenditure of fifty million pounds for this financial year. This wasytated at a conference of State Premiers flow being held in Canberra. Efforts are to he made by the Federal Treasurer, Mr Chifley. to induce the State Governments to curtail their works and domestic expenditure, and leave the

taxation field wide open to the Commonwealth. The construction of fourteen adoitional ships, at a cost of six million pounds, was authorised bv the War Cabinet to-day. This represents the second stage in a shipbuilding programme, the first stage of which provided for the building of eleven. Some of the ships will have refrigeration space.

WEALTHY SYDNEYITES.

RUSH TO THE COUNTRY

SYDNEY. December 19A warning to wealthy persons who are rushing to the country paying fabulous prices or exorbitant rents, for houses, was issued by the Minister of National Emergency Services (Mr. Heffron), who said that both the State and Federal Governments had power to requisition houses and buildings in the country for accommodation of evacuated children from vulnerable areas. Mr. Heffron said that the rush of wealthy persons to the country w £R deplorable. It was contrary to British tradition that people should become panic-stricken and run for cover at the first sien of danger. The unfair use of their wealth will avail those people little, he said, if and when in the national interest the Government requires homes, just purchased by these selfish people. The safety of women and children must take precedence over everything else.