§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British Government were informed that East Timor was to be taken over by Indonesian-backed forces; and if he will make a statement. [51251]
§ Mr. BradshawThe British Government were of course aware of reports of Indonesian involvement in East Timor ahead of the invasion in 1975, but the situation was far from clear and reports were difficult to verify. In the absence of any British representation in the area, HMG had no independent means of doing so. The UK deplored the Indonesian invasion and did not recognise the incorporation of East Timor into Indonesia.