DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON TITO

SIR,-Every Catholic regrets Tito's refusal to give Archbishop Stepinac his liberty. Yet even in so sad a matter as this, a sense of proportion should be maintained, Hostility to Catholicism is nothing new in certain parts of Yugoslavia; and one can take comfort from the knowledge that, unpalatable in some ways as the present regime certainly is, the form of Communism there established is very much more tolerable than the Communism of Russia and the satellite states. None will deny that the Government of Yugoslavia has become very much more liberal since it seceded from the Cominform than it had been before.
There is little reason to suppose that this tendency will now, inexplicably, be reversed. It might be supposed that a Catholic's wisest course would be so to cultivate friendly relations with this new society, that those elements in it that seem promising may be encouraged to develop. To receive,. and indeed welcome, Marshal Tito is as good a way as any to promote this end.
It is a pity that the attitude of so many Catholics to Yugoslavia should be determined exclusively by the position of the Church in that country; though even if that were a legitimate sole criterion, one can find much to be thankful for, at least relatively. But there are other interests to be considered. There is probably a greater potentiality for good in the present social structure of Yugoslavia than ever there was in the obnoxious and genuinely "reactionary" regime which ruled there before the war. Surely this is important enough to be considered.
Perhaps thc time has come for Catholics to be thankful for what good they can find in a political system, which, even if very imperfect. is not as wholly to be detested as the Russian.
T. G. Ian Hamner.
Coatgreen, Melrose, Roxburghshire.
SIR,-As an English Catholic working in daily contact with refugees from Yugoslavia and other Iron Curtain countries, I am horrified and appalled at the Government's invitation to Marshal Tito, and so very, very ashamed. I can understand that certain members of the Government could not care less if a few Roman Catholic Bishops, priests and nuns are imprisoned and tortured, but one would hope that they are at least aware of the dangers of Communism as a whole. How can one back up British prestige and attempt to explain our foreign policy to Europeans? I have given up trying. One is in a constant "state of blush"!
And it has to happen in our lovely young Queen's Coronation year. I have voted Conservative all my life, but never again.
(Mrs.) Frances Windsor.
Wolf Dietrichstr. 37, Salzburg, Austria.
He likes it
Sie,-I would suggest that the agitation for a semi-political demonstration on the occasion of Tito's visit is to be deprecated-he thrives on such publicity. Nay Marshall.
Litt towards Heaven
Ste,-Why not give Tito a lift up towards Heaven? Some friends asked me to join them. "Every time we go to Mass we are going to say a prayer for Tito." Seems a nice idea. Maybe we could also send him when he arrives holy pictures and medals of the saints. A great man is worth winning for God. Why not have a try for him?
C. A. B. West MoIesey.