98

Mr J. D. L. Hood, External Affairs Office, London, to Department of External Affairs

Cablegram 131 LONDON, 8 November 1937, 4-02 p.m.

TIMOR

Reference H 25 [1] and Canberra correspondence with Batavia August 18th [2] and September 9th [3], Portuguese Minister for Colonies [4] has repeated to British representative at Lisbon [5] that he regards Staughton concession as dead but he is quite willing to grant to a British or Australian company either the same or a new concession at the same time Portuguese Government in considering request for a larger area find it difficult to ignore claims of Wittouck. [6] British representative’s opinion is that best course for Pascoe would be to cut adrift altogether from Staughton concession and break fresh ground personally with new Governor.

HOOD

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1 Document 87.

2 Document 59.

3 Document 62.

4 Dr F. J. V. Machado.

5 Charles H. Bateman, Counsellor and Charge d’Affaires.

6 See Document 49, note 3.

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[AA : A981, TIMOR (PORTUGUESE) 22, ii]