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dated August 9, 1954: Britain and Goa

The British intervention in the Indo-Portuguese dispute was prominently featured in the UK press on August 7 under such headlines as "India warned - Do not use force," reports Dr. K.S. Shelvankar from London. Most commentators agree that although the action does not constitute a protest in the diplomatic sense, it is unprecedented for Britain to send such a strongly worded message openly to a member of the Commonwealth. It is described variously as a forthright pronouncement and as one of the strongest public rebukes ever administered by one Commonwealth Government to another. In official quarters, it is stressed that the Foreign Office statement does not commit Britain to one side or the other of the case. The whole aim of the plea, it is said, is to prevent violence developing. Although there is this appearance of neutrality, it has been noted that Britain has made no similar demarche in Lisbon nor is there any evidence that she has advised moderation on the part of the Portuguese Government or appealed to it to refrain from provocative measures and statements. According to a New Delhi report, India's reply to the British note on Goa will shortly be despatched. The British Government's advice to India to refrain from resorting to force or methods bound to lead to the use of force has aroused considerable indignation in New Delhi. Britain was perhaps the only power which was being kept fully informed by India as to the internal developments in the Portuguese settlements. It has been made repeatedly clear that the Government of India has had no hand in the matter, and that what was happening was a spontaneous demonstration of the inhabitants of the settlements against Portugal's oppressive rule.

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