Miscellaneous - This Day That Age   

dated July 20, 1955: Nehru warns Portugal

Prime Minister Nehru declared in New Delhi on July 19 that if the Portuguese did not change their attitude in Goa and remained indifferent both to facts and moral pressure, he was afraid that not only their rule in Goa but ultimately their rule in Portugal itself would collapse. Mr. Nehru, who was addressing his first press conference after return from Russia and East European countries, was a picture of fury when he spoke about Goa. "No nonsense about Goa, no matter from which quarter it comes. Let the world take notice, let the Atlantic powers also take notice. The most interesting thing about Goa that I found was the attitude of some of the newspapers - not in India - but in other countries. It is really a sort of romantic attitude which has no relation to facts. I suppose this attitude is to be found among some people in Portugal itself. It is a sort of romantic clinging to past ideas without any relation to present-day facts. I came across some British newspapers, which were full of this romance, and feeling thrilled about this state of things. They are trying to tell us - the Government of India - how absurd it is for us as champions of peace to be functioning as we do in Goa. I find it a little difficult to deal with this romantic thing - which has neither logic nor reason - something which has outlived its utility. It is extraordinary indeed. Certain types of vested interests want to preserve other vested interests. It is a kind of self-justification, I suppose. There is nothing more fantastic, absurd and scandalous - historically, politically, religiously than the Portuguese occupation of Goa. It is all fantastic nonsense to talk of agreements signed in some past century dealing with exchange of bowmen, etc. We will not tolerate this nonsense about Goa. But surely, we will adhere to the path of peace."

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