The rulers of the princely states were not uniformly enthusiastic about integrating their domains into independent India. Some, such as the kings of Cochin, Bikaner and Jawhar, were motivated to join India out of ideological and patriotic considerations,[24] but others insisted that they had the right to join either India or Pakistan, to remain independent, or form a union of their own.[25] Bhopal, Travancore and Hyderabad announced that they did not intend to join either dominion.[26] Hyderabad went as far as to appoint trade representatives in European countries and commencing negotiations with the Portuguese to lease or buy Goa to give it access to the sea,[27] and Travancore pointed to the strategic importance to western countries of its thorium reserves while asking for recognition.[28] Some states proposed a subcontinent-wide confederation of princely states, as a third entity in addition to India and Pakistan.[29] Bhopal attempted to build an alliance between the princely states and the Muslim League to counter the pressure being put on rulers by the Congress.[30]
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