Dictator says honour for Archbishop Stepinac is 'an insult to Yugoslavia'

!IBIR191111 Y MASS I !TITO TRIES THREATS TO SILENCE
A CIRCUS
PROTESTS
Blames Vatican for 'planning' campaign in Britain
MARSHAL TITO this week strongly attacked British Catholics and others who have urged that during his forthcoming visit to Britain he should be made aware of their detestation of his persecution
of the Church.
It is striking evidence of how sensitive he is in present circumstances to public opinion in the West, upon whose continued friendship he depends.
Speaking to a group of factory workers on Tuesday, Marshal Tito declared that he would neither talk to nor make concessions to those in Britain who protest at his treatment of the Church.
And, with a hint of blackmail, he threatened that he would not come at all if the majority of the people of this country were opposed
He went on to "guarantee" that Archbish'op Stepinac, now a Cardinal-designate, would never again be allowed to function as an Archbishop.
"The Vatican," he said, h a d launched a campaign in Britain in connection with his planned visit, "A savage hue and cry is being conducted against my visit to Britain," he declared. it is true that there are now two sides over there—one in favour of my visit and one against it —and it looks as if I wished to visit England by force.
"This is not my personal affair; it concerns Yugoslavia.
No concessions
"If I knew that 50 per cent. of the people in England were against my visit I should not like to go there, no matter how much I wanted to meet Mr. Churchill and speak to him, no matter how much t should have liked to show good will for improving relations between our countries.
"However, what certain circles in England are doing-wand such circles are enemies of Yugoslavia—shows a lack of culture.
"II is not my person that is involved but Yugoslav Socialism. Those circles know that I am coming as a representative of a Socialist State and they feel that they must show their displeasure and that they must furthermore ask for concessions—such as the release of the sentenced priests, who must be given fat salaries, that the Archbishop should be reinstalled in Zagreb and given a Cardinal's hat.
"But I am not going to Britain to make concessions to that circle. Indeed, I am not going to talk to that circle. When I go to England, I know why I am going and I know that I have no need to discuss with anyone there the internal affairs of Yugoslavia, which arc no concern of others."
An insult
On Archbishop Stepinac, Marshal of international A flairs this week said
Tito had this to say that the State in Yugoslavia pays 52 "The Vatican has insulted Yugomillion dinars a year in support of Meade by proclaiming the war crimthe Catholic Church, inal Stepinac a Cardinal. It complained that the Govern "He is a political Bishop. He con-" ment's benevolent intentions to protributed to the arrangement between vide the lower clergy with social inAlexander Karageorgevic [the late surance, sickness benefit and old-age King] and the Vatican for a concordat pensions are frustrated by the Vatiand became a Bishop overnight. He can, which wants to create an "aura did not become a Bishop because of of martyrdom" around the Church. any holiness or great services, This was just a political question, as it is today.
"But they [the Vatican] will never s e e Stepinac a s Archbishop i n Zagreb," The Yugoslav authorities describe Mgr. Stepinac as the "former Archbishop of Zagreb" and forbid him to appear at any public functions in the capacity of Primate of Yugoslavia whilst be is still officially serving his 16-year sentence.
The Yugoslav Press is also referring to the protests of British Christians and has featured articles aimed at providing a "reply" to Catholic critics.
It further deplored the excommunication of three Slovene priests who founded the Cyrila and Methodian Association, which fell under ecclesiastical censure because it was an association "for co-operation with the State authorities."