Your telegram No. 69 18th July, Secret. [1] Timor Oil Concessions.

Wittouck [2] is now in London and is requesting the support of His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on behalf of Asia
Investments Company which he claims is a British Company
registered in Hong Kong. He states that under Portuguese law
rights vested in this Company cover the entire oil rights of Timor
with the exception of Staughton concessions [3] previously
granted, that through Abbott, Tout and Creer, Solicitors, Sydney,
the Company has[4] Timor Oil Limited aforementioned Staughton
concessions and that his Company's concessions therefore cover
complete oil rights of Portuguese Timor. He has informed the
Portuguese Government and His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon [5]
that he actually represents Australian interests but in a letter
to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs [6] he merely states
'he is fully conversant with the wishes of the Australian
Government.'
Wittouck states that the Portuguese Government made it clear to
him that they 'could not treat with him as regards concessions
desired by Australia' in the absence of confirmation of the
statement that he represented 'the Australian interests'. He
informed His Majesty's Ambassador that interested parties in
Australia had handed over their interests to him and that he was
prepared to produce correspondence.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs feels that it is
advisable, before considering reply to Wittouck's request for
interview or action in the sense desired in your telegram No. 69,
to ascertain from you how much credence should be extended to
Wittouck's statement and whether the Australian Companies
mentioned in your telegram have a better claim to support than
such Australian interests as Mr Wittouck may be found on
investigation to be formally empowered to represent.

As Mr Wittouck is pressing for an interview before 31st July I
should be grateful for an early reply to this telegram.