CONFIDENTIAL
demand was only put forward when the Portuguese
showed signs of weakening on earlier demands.
2. Today, although the administration of the
Colony remains nominally in the hands of the
Portuguese, it is clear that their authority to
impose their will, at any rate on the local
communists, has almost entirely disappeared.
Thus:
(a) they were unwilling to give any effective
protection to the British Consulate when
it was besieged by demonstrators;
(b) they are unwilling to prevent the local commercial
radio station "Radio Vila Verde" from putting
out extremely hostile anti-British propaganda;
and
(c) the Governor apologised to the local communists
to secure the release of a Portuguese soldier
who had been "arrested" for his alleged
misbehaviour during an anti-British demon-
stration.
CONFIDENTIAL