Thorneycroft argued that if the Victorious did not pass through the Straits on her return journey, Britain "should suffer a substantial political defeat with unpredictable effects on our military position in the Far East," and was supported in this view by Admiral Mountbatten and David Luce, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.
Thorneycroft berargumen bahwa jika Victorious tidak melewati Selat Sunda dalam perjalanan pulang, Inggris "harus menderita kekalahan politik substansial dengan efek yang tak terduga terhadap posisi militer di Timur Jauh,"; pandangannya didukung oleh Laksamana Mountbatten dan David Luce, Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut.