Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-06
LORD DUNRAVEN'S LETTER.
Mailed by the Servia Saturday to the
New York Yacht Club.

| Cable Special to the World.
LONDON. May 4--The Earl of Dunraven 5
reply to the New York yacht clubs written
answer to his Valkyrie challenge was mailed to-
| day by the Servia. No one but Lord Dunraven
and two or three of his intimate friends know
what it contains, but the World correspondent
is informed, on the very best authority. that if
the Americans meet Lord Dunraven's sugges-
tons by way of a compromise on the question
of time allowance the race will not fall through
Lord Dunraven is very anxious to have the race
take place even if he is obliged to meet the Vol
unteer. though many of his Yachting associates
strongly advise him to protest against that
yacht.
The earl has been out of town all week, but
got back to-day. He told the World correspond
ent that 1t would be discourteous for him to
say anything about the contents of the letter
until 1t reached New York. but he added that ne
felt extremely hopeful that the race would
come of. Just what Lord Dunraven's objec-
tlons arc to the New York clubs notifications
III the matter. of time-allowance rules il is i'm
possible to say as yet. but there is no doubt at
all put what that is the sore spot. He would
gladly accept the same arrangement that has
peen made IN previous contests. namely, a har
monlous compromise between the American
ana British rule measurement and no doubt. in
the event of the Volunteer being named as the
American champion. the yalkyrie will stand
badly IN need of all the fair play that she can
claim.
Her designer. Mr. Watson. who has been at
southampton and in the Isle of Wight all the
week talking matters over with the members OF
the Royal yacht squadron, is said to be urgent
III his demands that the Valkyrie sh Ould be
raced as a keelboat in New York. and in this
way keep up the double element of rivalry both
as an international contest and contest
between keel-boats and centerboards.
Mr.. Dixon Kemp, who is undoubtedly one of
the friends whom Lord Dunraven consulted
before mailing his letter, told the World cor
respondent to-day that he did not think that
small difficulties in the way of proper time
allowance would cause the race to fall through
''Dunraven's letter will set that matter
straight" he said. IF there is any serious
dltficultyit will be in the new deed of gift which
is strongly objected to here
On this point to-day's Field says:
"Of course there is difficulty about the new
deed. But that really is more matter for the
Royal yacht squadron to decide. and there is
the ugly fact that the New York yacht club
makes the condition that an undertaking shall
be given before the matches are sailed that the
winning club adopt the deed. They argue that
their proposal is fair. and that there cannot be
anything unreasonable in the deed or they
would not propose that the winning club must
adopt it. In face of the fact that they NAV
lose the custody of the cup by the victory of
the Nalkyrie this is magnanlmity of trans
atlantic type. 1t Is true. But we cannot very
well blind ourselves to the fact that the chances
are at least ten to one that the Valkyrie does
not win the cup if the Volunteer is matched
against her Then why should the Royal Yacht
squadron enter into an arrangement which so
far as can be foreseen. will confirm the cup in
the possession of the New York yacht club for
ever? II the New York yacht club wishes by
these means, to keep the cup and to boast of
beating British yachts under it they can do So
But 1t Is very different matter asking the
Royal yact squadron to be party to the trans
action