12 AUGUST 1966, Page 14

The Abortion Bill

SIR,—In my previous letter to you I mentioned that it was difficult to assess the view that the foetus is only a potential human being because the Bishop of Exeter made no attempt to provide supporting reasons. Now we have Mr Vaughan making an iden- tical statement equally bereft of reasons. Perhaps he thinks that his liberal use of italics is an adequate substitute. What characteristics essential to human nature are lacking to thefoetus? I have used italics because I first asked this question in the SPECTATOR almost exactly four years ago I would rather think that I received no answer because it was overlooked than because the abortionists have demoted the foetus merely because it was convenient to them to do so.