CANBERRA, 21 September 1944

STAFF CONVERSATIONS WITH PORTUGAL

The Commander-in-Chief, Australian Military Forces, said that
Staff conversations, at which Australia was represented by
Brigadier A. W. Wardell, were at present being held in Lisbon, for
discussion of Portuguese participation in any Allied operation for
the occupation of Timor.

2. It was expected that the results of the conversations would be
known in a few weeks' time. [1]

3. Mr. McEwen [2] suggested that, in view of the importance of
Portuguese Timor in relation to the security of Australia in the
postwar period, consideration should be given to the adoption of
economic measures to ensure the predominance of Australian
influence there as soon as Portuguese Timor was liberated.