OCCUPATION OF TIMOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 301, 22 December 1941, Page 5

OCCUPATION OF TIMOR

PORTUGUESE VIEW OF WHAT WAS DONE MAY SEND TROOPS TO STRENGTHEN GARRISON (By Telexrnph—Press Association —Copyright.l i Recd 6.40 p.m. i Lisbon, Dee. 19. The Prime Minister. Dr. A de (J. Salazar, in a statement, said the Portuguese Government is studying the possibilities of reinforcing the garrison in Timor (north of Australia) to estaollAh peace in that area. Th? troops who landed in Timor 11.71 a conviction that they were cooperating with the permission of Portugal, and in Portuguese interests "We immediately endeavou"°d to put the situation in the correct perspective," he said- ‘"The friendlv sentiments of Britain and Holland da! not modify tin’s situation. We had agreed, on November 4, to study collaboration wilh Britain and Holland in the event of an attack on Timor, but this project was never carried out. The Governments of great empires are not permitted to do what we as a small, weak country are .tot permitted to do. They are also not permitted to confound the quickness 01 movement with a precipitation which led them to invade the territory of a neutral friend and ally.” Dr. Salazar added that Portugal, on November 4, accepted Britain's offer of help in the event of a Japanese attack on Timor. The Government also agreed to accept help fro.n joint Australian and Dutch forces, but made it quite clear that this arrangement was the result of a mere threat of attack. On December 11 the British Ambassador informed the Portuguese Government that submarines were sighted off Timor, and a Dutch force was already approaching Pilli to prevent a possible Japanese landing The Portuguese reply was a ver;-’ strong protest, and a reminder that this action exceeded what had been agreed upon. Dr. Salazar expressed the hope that the Australian and Dutcn forces would he withdrawn when the Portuguese garrison was strengthened