NOT FOR SALE

Southland Times, Issue 21835, 12 October 1932, Page 7

NOT FOR SALE

ISLAND OF TIMOR ALLEGED INTENTIONS OF 'JAPAN PORTUGUESE OPINION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, October 10. Regarding the assertion that Japan is seeking to acquire a portion of Timor, naval experts say that with Timor plus the Carolines, Japan could straddle Australia, eventually off-set-ting the value of Singapore. The Japanese Ambassador stated: “We are quite uninformed of such an intention.” The Dutch Embassy also is uninformed, while the Portuguese Embassy declared it was unthinkable that Portugal would sell Timor. Possibly Japan contemplated some overtures, but she would get little satisfaction. Public opinion in Portugal, despite the military dictatorship, would not tolerate such a sale, and it could be said without even communicating with Lisbon that the transfer of Timor was unlikely. The London Daily Herald gave prominence to a cable from Canberra stating that official circles were stirred by a. report that Japan contemplates negotiating for the purchase of the Portuguese section of Timor. The strictest secrecy was maintained, but it was admitted that Japan in the past had made overtures to buy the Australian mandate over New Guinea. REPORT DENIED SCEPTICISM IN HOLLAND. (Rec. 11.20 p.m.) London, October 11. A message from the Hague in connection with the Japan-Timor report says that the story was received with scepticism. The Rotterdamsche Courant reveals that Article 13 in the DutchPortuguese Treaty of 1904 gives Holland preference in any transfer of rights while both agreed in an exchange of notes in 1897 not to concede any third Power the right to establish coaling or marine stations in the East Indies. A message from Lisbon states that the Foreign Minister says the report is incorrect.