SIR,—If the letter from 'Tutor Oxoniensis' were to create the
impression that the Opus Dei proposals were rejected because there is less difficulty in hous- ing Afro-Asian students, or indeed students of any kind, in Oxford than elsewhere, it might do con- siderable harm. Whatever the undergraduate situation—and I am surprised to hear that Opus Dei .was concerned solely or mainly with undergraduates —there is a shortage of accommodation for overseas students of other kinds, chiefly graduates and students at the College of Technology. I know of one African couple, for instance, who have had to leave their four-months-old baby in London because they cannot find a lodging that will accept him. Had it not been for the quick generosity of the Gulbenkian Foundation in providing a hostel, Oxford would have had to withdtaw from the Commonwealth Teacher Training pmgrarnme altogether because it would have been impossible to house those to whom awards were made, I have no special knowledge of the negotiations connected with the Opus Dei pro- posal, or of Opus Dei itself, and no wish to prolong this discussion, but the Society which I represent has been trying, on a much smaller scale, to raise funds to house overseas students and it would be most unfortunate if the impression were created that the shortage of accommodation for Afro-Asian students at Oxford is less acute than in other univer- sity cities. There may have been good reasons for rejecting the help of Opus Dei, but help we certainly need.—Yours faithfully;
A. D. C. PETERSON Chairman, Oxford Branch Royal Commonwealth Society University of Oxford. Department of Education, 15 Nor/tam Gardens. Oxford
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