Your 69 of 22nd July. [1]

Commonwealth Government had no knowledge whatever that Wittouck
was associated with group on whose behalf Abbot, Tout and Creer
were acting. In the conversations with the Commonwealth Government
[2] Creer represented he was acting for purely Australian and
British interests, but would not disclose principals, and no
representations were actually made to Commonwealth Government by
Creer to support any application by his group. In any case support
would not have been given in absence of information about his
group. The knowledge you furnish that Wittouck is behind this
group confirms our attitude. Creer was definitely informed by
Minister External Affairs [3] that the Commonwealth Government
would not only not be associated with any group which represented
any foreign interest, and especially Japanese, but would
definitely oppose any attempt to obtain concessions on behalf such
interests.

In meantime, Commonwealth Government was approached by Oil Search
Ltd which fully satisfied Commonwealth Government as to their
bonafides, capital and purely Australian interests.

We desire that action as indicated in telegram 69 be taken
immediately, as Oil Search has already submitted application
direct to Lisbon by cablegram, confirmed by air mail and is
sending representative to Lisbon by air.

In submitting these representations to Lisbon, we feel in light of
knowledge about Wittouck, that the Portuguese Government should be
informed we dissociate ourselves entirely from his activities, and
any representations he might make to Portuguese Government.