YUGOSLAVIA: Excommunicate’s Interview

Rome stirred with ancient and impressive wrath. For the sentencing of Archbishop Aloysius Stepinac to 16 years on charges of helping terrorists and of forcing conversion of Serbs to Catholicism, the Holy See last week excommunicated “all those who have participated physically or morally” in this grave offense against the “liberty and dignity [of one of] the Church’s sacred pastors.” This clearly included Marshal (Josip Broz) Tito and most of his Government.

The excommunication, whose scope is without modern precedent, was performed by the Congregation of the Council (Catholicism’s highest disciplinary authority), called into special session for the first time in 75 years.

Looking well and composed despite his expulsion from his father’s faith (Tito has long since embraced another, worldlier one), * the Marshal last week granted to TIME Correspondent Robert Low a typically arrogant and mendacious Communist interview. Pacing the long, low-ceilinged study of his fashionable Belgrade residence (he was in full marshal’s regalia, including gold-braided tunic and red-striped, blue breeches), Tito talked freely.

On a possible collectivization of agriculture: “We will never collectivize.”

He blamed the recent “difficult period” in U.S.-Yugoslav relations entirely on the U.S. Said he: “Improvement does not depend on us.”

On opposition within Yugoslavia (which Tito has ruthlessly suppressed): “We are not against any opposition movement which desires to assist in the reconstruction of the country.” But, added Tito indignantly, the present opposition actually “seeks to profit by the mistakes we make.” He made a grim prophecy: “I know [the opposition] will never become stronger, only weaker.”

*Few, if any, important members of Tito’s Government regardthemselves as Roman Catholics, but 37% of Yugoslavs are.