international reaction on goa liberation
TRANSCRIPT
International Reaction on Goa Liberation
ANALYSIS AND SIGNIFICANCE
Outline• Background of the war• The pre war response• The war response• The post war response
Background
After 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru made repeated attempts for the integration of Goa to the Indian Republic. The Portuguese refused to budge
Background
India
Portugal
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 50000
Personnel
Pre War ResponseBritain
• Was asked to mediate
Brazil
• Protested on Portugal’s behalf
UN
• Security Council asked to mediate
USA
• Said that India should not expect any support
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Pre War Response
Mexico
• Offered support through its influence in South America
Africa
• Were calling India’s response “soft”
War commences
The War response
Portugal goes to the UN
• Portugal requests a debate in security Council over the Goa conflict
• Request accepted through the minimum votes
• USA, UK, France, Turkey, Chile, Ecuador, Nationalist China
• US delegate criticizes the use of arms
The War response
Soviet Union rescues India
• Liberia, Ceylon and U.A.R. present a resolution absolving India of any charges and asking Portugal to cooperate
• Supported only by Soviet Union
• Resolution presented by USA, UK, France and Turkey calling for immediate cessation of hostilities
• Vetoed by Soviet Union
The War Response
Britain delays use of air base Egypt denies Suez access to warships
Pakistan denies air passage
Post War response
United States Of America
• “People are saying, the preacher has been caught coming out of the brothel”
• Foreign aid appropriation cut by 25%
• The New York Times and Life International criticizes India
Post War responseSoviet Union
• Head of State of Soviet Union tours India during war, applauding it on several occasions
• “…from those who enrich themselves from colonialist plunder”
• The de facto leader, Nikita Khrushchev praises Nehru on behalf of every Soviet citizen
Post War response
United Kingdom
• Recognised that the Portuguese enclaves in Goa were a source of conflict and pain to the Indians
• Deplored the use of military force
• Opposition Labour Party expressed regret
• Statement to the UN was “shocked and dismayed”
Post War responseChina
• In an official statement, stressed its resolute support for people fighting imperialist colonialism
• Hong Kong communist paper termed it a desperate act by Nehru to regain stature
• Accepted that Goa is legitimate Indian territory
• Called the act an electoral campaign
Post War response
Pakistan
• Described Indian attack as “naked militarism”
• Asked for a UN sponsored plebiscite
• Raised the Kashmir issue
• Accused India of hypocrisy
• President wrote to his US counterpart stressing India’s military prone nature
Post War responseAfrican and Arab nations
• United Arab Republic called it a legitimate effort
• Tunisia said “patient and non violent” India was forced by Portuguese
• Expression of hope that Portuguese colonies in Africa will soon be liberated
• Mozambique leader called it legitimate force against “butchers”
Post War response
Brazil and Netherlands
• Brazil expressed heartfelt solidarity with Portuguese
• “a Portuguese wound is a Brazilian pain”
• “necessary for Portuguese to understand that the age of colonialism is over”
• Netherlands regretted that India “of all countries” resorted to military action
• Expressed fear of similar retaliation by Indonesia
Conclusion
Response was according to
• Colonial era role• Alliances
Response was indicative of
• Present status of India• Future alliances and conflicts
