Continuing my quest to corroborate the Portuguese information officer Leo Lawrence's account, here is something reported by the New York Times, that he failed to mention:
PRIESTS IN GOA PRAY FOR INDIA PANGIM, Goa, Dec. 25 (AP) Roman Catholic priests offered prayers for the prosperity of India and Goa today at special Christmas Services in this former Portuguese enclave. More than a third of the 650,000 persons living in the captured enclaves - Goa, Damao and Diu - are Catholics. The Bishop of Pangim said the Portuguese had prevented Goans from living a full life as human beings. The Bishop prayed for a long life for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whom he termed the world's foremost man of peace. The Portuguese wrecked Pangim's water system in their retreat, and an acute water shortage exists. This and other problems were believed discussed here yesterday at a meeting of Indian military commanders and civilian officials planning the enclaves' future as part of India. ------New York Times, Dec 26, 1961, Page 2 Cheers, Santosh