Portugal Prepares Defence Of Indian Territories

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 13

Portugal Prepares Defence Of Indian Territories

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.)' LONDON, August 10. The Portuguese Army Chief of Staff (General Barros R.odrigues) has flown to Goa, Portugal’s largest territory in India, to discuss plans for its defence, the Lisbon correspondent of the “Daily Express” said today. The correspondent says India has massed 50 tanks and two infantry divisions 10 miles north of Goa. The Portuguese Overseas Ministry claimed today that military tents, believed capable of holding 1000 men, had been put tip in India within sight of the frontier of Diu, another Portuguese colony. Three Indians had reported to the Portuguese authorities in Diu saying they were doctors and asking permission to treat the injured in “any incidents.” The Ministry said the Governor of Damao, the pther Portuguese colony in India, had received reports that nearly 2000 men had gathered in adjoining Indian territory.

Ever tince India gained her independence in 1947, she has campaigned to take over the possessions wnich Portugal set up on her territory 500 years ago. Now only Goa, Damao, and Diu are. left. A Reuter message from the Goanese border said about 50 Indian demonstrators were marching towards Goa this morning. Dock workers, pilots, and tugmasters in Bombay have boycotted all foreign shipping bound to Goa ports. Three British ships are among those held up. The Bombay correspondent of the “Daily Mail” said the men claim that support has been pledged by their colleagues in Calcutta and Madras. They are now planning to extend the ban to Colombo and Karachi, and will abo seek the co-operation of the International Transport Workers’ Federation to make the ban world wide.

The correspondent said British shipning agents in Bombay had been asked by the Director-General of Shipping in the Indian Government to make a public declaration that none of their ships would visit the port of Marmagda until Goa had been ceded to India. If this assurance was given, the union boycott would be lifted.