"Yes, yes," Pedro said quickly, seizing the chance to ease the tension. "Portugal has always been a friend to Britain. We've never wanted to change that harmony."
John let his smile fade into something more diplomatic."Alan is young," he said lightly, "and still learning the… subtleties of relations between nations. I, however, have always believed in Portugal's friendly stance. Our two countries share many interests — or we wouldn't have invited you to such an… important, private, and entirely unofficial gathering tonight."
The string of qualifiers was deliberate. The subtext was clear: after tonight, none of them might ever admit this meeting happened.
Pedro's nod was slow, deliberate. "To build such a valuable friendship — I couldn't ask for more."
Dictator? Flirted with fascist regimes? Alan didn't care.The British Empire had never chosen its friends by moral purity. It had allied with the Dutch to fight Spain, with Germany to check France, with France to check Germany. That was tradition.
Portugal wasn't strong enough to threaten Britain. And just because Salazar was a strongman? London's old foxes didn't have the time — or the hypocrisy — to pretend moral outrage.
After the opening jabs, John eased the conversation toward business."In South Asia, our two nations have common ground. At the end of the day, we are both European powers. The colonial map still has more than one empire left — and outside Germany and Italy, several nations still hold territories. The future of those territories…" He glanced at Alan, who inclined his head. "That's the real question. And we'd prefer to keep things amicable."
"The British Empire has never interfered with Portuguese Goa," John continued. "But if Indian politicians take charge? They won't be so polite. The Congress Party's aim is nothing less than complete sovereignty over all of British India — and that includes every inch of the subcontinent."
Alan added, almost lazily, "And if I'm not mistaken, the Congress has already planted grassroots cells inside Goa. That's… inconvenient. Sooner or later, Lisbon's governor will have a problem."
"Goa is part of Portugal," Pedro said sharply. "Everyone knows this. It's been nearly five centuries. British India didn't even exist back then."
Alan lifted a hand, as if calming a horse."A fair point — for gentlemen like us. But nationalists? They don't care about fair points. They care about what serves their cause. Objective facts won't matter; they'll plug their ears and shout their slogans. And in my experience, Indian nationalists are particularly gifted at that."
Elsewhere in the hall, princely-state delegates were laughing over drinks. The Congress's promises held little appeal for them — why trade personal sovereignty for political slogans? In the subcontinent, princely alliances were like the coalitions of China's Spring and Autumn era: big states leading small ones, everyone guarding their own turf.It was rare to see so many major states gathered. Rarer still with a Portuguese governor's representative among them.
Pedro, frowning, asked, "I still don't see how Goa can help Britain. The Empire hardly needs our assistance."
Alan's smile was polite, measured. "Some things we may not be able to do ourselves in the future. But if Goa remains Portuguese, certain… arrangements become much easier. It's not just about helping us. It could help Portugal, too."
Pedro said nothing. But Alan could see the thought settling behind his eyes. The glory of Portugal's Age of Exploration had long since faded, replaced by decline. Centuries of overseas plunder had enriched the crown, the nobility, and the church — but not the people.Luxury, not industry, had been their priority. Inflation had followed. Exports had withered. By the mid-twentieth century, Portugal was Europe's poorest country.
Salazar's dictatorship had stopped the freefall, but the nation was still weak — and in Asia, at least, weaker than British India.Goa gave Portugal a tiny slice of the colonial pie here, a place at the table. Alan's point was simple: protect that slice, and maybe they could both profit.
When Pedro left to mingle, John's tone lost its polish. "Be honest — how much do you actually value Portugal? How much can they really help us?"
Alan sipped his drink. "Portugal is a strongman state. We… are a democracy. Democracy means you argue until the opportunity is gone. If Britain held Goa and India turned on us, we'd be paralyzed. But if it's in Portuguese hands?" He smiled thinly. "Sometimes it's easier to have a friend do what you can't."