Evening star., 1941-12-22
Timor Occupied Only
After Jap Subs Were
Sighted, British Say
Attack by Nipponese
Appeared Imminent,
Statement Asserts
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 22-The British
government declared in an eight
point statement last night that
Australian and Dutch troops occu-
pied Portuguese Timor only after
Japanese submarines had been
sighted in the immediate vicinity
and Japanese attack appeared i'm
minent.
In answer to Portuguese Premier
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar's state
ment to the Portuguese Parliament.
the British said nothing has
emerged more clearly from the pres
ent war than that if defensive action
is delayed until an attack has
actually developed, ii is likely to be
too late"
Gn his speech Friday before the
National Assembly. Salazar said
the Portuguese territory in the
Far East had been occupied be-
fore any threat of attack ap-
peared and while Portugal was
discussing a common defenseD
No Information on Attack.
An Exchange Telegraph agency
dispatch from Canberra today said
the Australian government, which
was in constant touch with the ter
ritory of New Guinea, had no in
formation concerning purported
Japanese attack there
The Rome radio had reported that
Japan seized that half-Dutch, half
Australian island to compensate for
the Allied occupation of Portuguese
Timor.
The British government had long
been in consultation with the
Portuguese over giving immediate
| assistance in the event of a jap
anese attack on Portuguese Timor"
before the occupation was decided
on, the British statement yesterday
continued, and IAN undertaking
already has been given that the
troops which entered Portuguese I'll
NOR will be withdrawn as soon as
the emergency with which they came
to deal is passed"
Declared Necessary.
Regret was expressed that it had
been necessary to carry out the oc-
cupation. but it was declared neces-
sary to defense of the vital inter-
ests of the Allied nations at war
with Japan.
Vile discussions were going on
with Portugal. the statement con-
tinued, "a fundamental change in
the situation was brought about by
Japan's sudden act of treachery on
December T."
"On December II an offer was
made to the Portuguese Ambassa-
dor in London of immediate assist
ance in the event of japanese
attack on Timor, and it was pro-
posed that this assistance be fur
nished by Australian and Neither
| land troops" the statement said.
THE Portuguese government ac-
cepted these proposals and in re-
sponse to request of the Portuguese
Ambassador they were confirmed ir
writing on December Is"
Imminent Threat.
The statement said Portugal's S
communication stated that the
threat to Timor must be regarded
as so imminent as to make imme-
diate precautionary measures neces-
sary to protect Timor and stressed
the importance of local authorita-
tives there being given wide lati-
tude so as to insure that the as
sistance contemplated would be
forthcoming in good time"
The statement then declared that
japanese submarines were identi-
fed near Timor on December l5
and the danger thus was imme-
diate. and it was in these circum-
stances that Allied military COM
manders on the spot. in the eXer-
else of the responsibility which
devolves upon commanders in the
field, Judged it essential to take ac-
ton to which the Portuguese gov
ernment have felt bound to take
strong exceptions.
The British government expressed
fear that the Portuguese forces
could scarcely have prolonged resist
ance without help and concluded
with His Majesty's government
gladly. mote DR.. Salazar's statement