Agendum 561 25 January 1941

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN PORTUGUESE TIMOR

The question of official British representation in Portuguese
Timor was raised by the British Consul-General, Batavia [1], early
in December last. The Consul-General expressed the view that if,
as was reported, Japan intended to establish a Consulate at Dilli,
a British consular representative should also be stationed there.

He suggested that in view of the strategic importance and
proximity of Timor to Australia, the Commonwealth Government might
be interested in the question.

2. A similar suggestion for the appointment of a British consular
representative at Dilli was made at the end of December by the
Minister for the Army [2], in the light of discussions which he
had had at General Headquarters, Singapore.

3. The Commonwealth Government requested the views of the United
Kingdom Government on the proposal on December 30th [3], adding
that in view of the inauguration of the Darwin-Dilli air service
and authentic reports of Japanese encroachment on Portuguese
Timor, it would welcome the appointment of a consular
representative at Dilli. The Foreign Office, however, saw
difficulties in the way of the appointment of a regular British
consular representative, suggesting instead that the Commonwealth
Government might consider either (a) the despatch of a
representative to Dilli who would nominally be attached to the
Darwin-Dilli Air Service, but whose commission would be much wider
and cover Japanese activities in the colony, or (b) the opening of
an Australian consulate at Dilli. [4]

4. My Department and the Department of Civil Aviation after
consultation are now agreed that the position could be best met by
the appointment to Dilli of an officer with a rank and status
short of that of Consul, but corresponding with that pertaining to
the present Official Representative of the Commonwealth of
Australia in New Caledonia. An officer with a designation of this
character would have wide and elastic functions and, provided he
were acceptable to the Portuguese Government, could perform a
useful role. It is considered that an officer of the Civil
Aviation Department would have the best qualifications for the
post in that at the present stage of development of Portuguese
Timor, the international aspect is principally related to air
activities.

5. A suitable officer for appointment is available in the person
of Mr. David Ross, Chief Inspector, Flying Branch, Department of
Civil Aviation. Mr. Ross's experience is appropriate both for the
technical and the general functions of the post. He is willing to
accept appointment for six months' residence in Timor, when he can
be replaced with a similar officer.

6. It had originally been intended that on the establishment of
the Darwin-Dilli air service a Qantas officer should in any case
be stationed at Dilli. This will, however, be unnecessary if a
Government representative as proposed above is appointed. The cost
of establishment, in addition to the existing salary of the
officer referred to, would be small, the principal items being a
tropical allowance of, say 300 per annum, and the cost of erection
of suitable bachelor quarters.

7. In default of a regular consular appointment by the United
Kingdom Government, the proposed arrangement is the most
satisfactory from the Commonwealth's point of view. The
appointment of an official representative in New Caledonia has
worked successfully, and it can be expected that the presence of
an official with the same status at Dilli will in the same way
enable our requirements to be substantially met as regards
information and contact with the local administration, without
committing the Commonwealth Government to a formal Consular
establishment. It is intended that the representative should have
means of cypher communication with the Department of External
Affairs. As in the case of the representative at Noumea, he would
function under the general direction of the Minister for External
Affairs.

8. It is therefore recommended that Cabinet approve:

(a) That an approach be made to the Portuguese Government with the
object of securing agreement to the appointment of an Official
Representative of the Commonwealth of Australia at Dilli.

(b) On receipt of the Portuguese Government's consent, that
authority be given to proceed with the appointment along the lines
and on the general conditions mentioned in this memorandum. [5]

MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS