JAPANESE SURRENDER ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF PORTUGUESE TIMOR

Report by Political Adviser attached to Commander, Australian
Forces in Timor (September 20th-27th, 1945)
1. Political Adviser, assistant and interpreter [1] arrived at
Koepang 11.20 a.m. 21st September and after consultations with
Brigadier Dyke went to Dilli by flyingboat the following morning
where together with Major Baillieu of Brigadier Dyke's staff they
had an informal talk with the Governor. [2] The talk showed
promise that the instructions in War Cabinet's directions of 18th
and 19th September could be carried out. [3] The Governor agreed
to receive Brigadier Dyke for official discussions the following
morning, 23rd September. The party returned to Koepang to inform
Brigadier Dyke and to return with him.

2. Brigadier Dyke with five Australian corvettes arrived at Dilli
at 10.15, 23rd September and was received by the Governor at
11.45. The Australian Commander formally notified the Governor of
the surrender of the Japanese forces in Timor (including those
which had operated in Portuguese territory) at Koepang on 11th
September; congratulated the Governor on the restoration of his
authority; and requested an opportunity for a public announcement.

Discussion of arrangements for making the surrender effective then
commenced.

3. Discussion resulted in the Agreement [4] annexed which contains
principles permitting action necessary to make the Japanese
surrender fully effective in respect of Portuguese Timor. Local
agreement and arrangements proved possible in regard to disposal
of Japanese, enemy war material, Allied prisoners of war and
internees, and Australian war graves. In regard to war crimes,
however, it was found necessary to refer the question to the
Australian and Portuguese Governments.

4. The Governor entertained the Australian party of eleven at a
formal luncheon with his family and officials. In the afternoon
Australian officers and personnel were landed and began practical
work in connection with enemy material, war graves, and a survey
of the situation as a preliminary to further tasks.

5. On 24th September work proceeded: e.g. Japanese brought
ammunition by truck to the waterside, natives carried it to barges
and assisted Japanese to dump it out at sea; dumps, dismantled
guns and other equipment were inspected; some interrogations were
made.

6. In order to mark publicly the association of Australia with the
liberation of Portuguese Timor, a ceremony was arranged for 4.30
p.m., 24th September (see (2) above) on shore at which in the
presence of sixty Australian naval and military personnel,
Portuguese officials, natives and townspeople, the Australian
Commander and the Governor made speeches and laid wreaths in
honour respectively of the victims of Japanese aggression and of
the Australians who fell in Portuguese Timor. In the evening the
Governor and his Aide dined with the Brigadier, the naval officer
commanding, and the Political Adviser.

7. The Political Adviser, his assistant and interpreter left Dilli
at 3 p.m., 25th September for Darwin, it being the opinion of the
Commander of Timforce that the political mission had been
successfully completed.

[matter omitted]