740.0011 Pacific War/1457
The British Embassy to the Department of State
In view of the Japanese menace to Portuguese Timor, His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia, in virtue of their Treaties of Alliance with Portugal, have recently been in consultation with the Portuguese Government regarding the security of this isolated outpost of the Portuguese Dominions.
The activities of the Japanese submarines and aircraft off Timor during the past week left no doubt that urgent precautionary action was necessary. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have therefore arranged, in agreement with the Portuguese Government, [Page 386] for the immediate protection of this territory by a combined force of troops from Australia and the Netherlands East Indies, the latter provided after agreement with the Netherlands Government.