In reply to the communique which you gentlemen handed me at 9.20
a.m. today [1], requesting me to accept the help of the Australian
and Dutch Forces, which will be directed immediately to the
territory of this colony, I have the honour to inform you that, in
accordance with the instructions from my Government in Portugal, I
cannot accept this help, because the position with regard to the
conflict is one of strict neutrality, and because no aggression of
any sort has taken place in our territory, the last-mentioned
being the sole condition under which the Government of Portugal
could accept the help of Australian and Dutch Forces for the
Defence of the Colony.

According to information received from my Government, His British
Majesty's Government has already been informed of the
abovementioned viewpoint.

Under these circumstances every disembarkation of forces will be
considered as a breach of the neutrality of our territory. [2]