New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
u. S. May Yet
Join Universal
Tennis Union
Several Differences Must Be
Settled Before an Agree.
ment Can Be Reached
BY Fred Hawthorne

The chances Of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association joining the
great International Tennis Federation,
body formed for the purpose OF
standardizing the game and the rules
all over the world, are still bright,
little brighter than they were a fsw
weeks ago, in fact. There are still diff
ferences to be smoothed out between
this country and the other nations in
volved, England, particularly, but ! be-
lieve this will eventually be doae are
when we do line up with tho ets~y
countries it is bound to mark a erx<ss
forward step In tho development Or Ia.
game.
The United States found it impfsacts-
cable to join the federation ~ 191h
just after the start of the World Wa,
and when negotiations were runewsA
last year the federation asked this
country to state the conditions upon
which it would become member.
AS the result of written and persons
al conferences with members of the
Federation, it developed that the prin-
cipal objection of this country to join
ing the international body lay in tbs
fact that the worlds championship on
grass COQTLS NdO Deeh
awarded to England ''in perpetuity,"
to be played at Wimbledon.
The United States declared this WAS
contrary to the accepted practices in
sport, particularly in the case of lawn
tennis, which has an international
scope. The federation took up the
matter again at its meeting last March
and the feeling then was that the
United States should join first and set
tie all differences afterwards. But
! this was not satisfactory TO our asso-
citation, which pointed out that due
recognition was not being given the
place held in international tennis IS
this and other countries.
The latest development comes in the
form of a letter from Watson NJ. Wash
burn, chairman of the committee in
charge of negotiations with foreign
countries, to the British Lawn Tennis
/ Association, setting forth the attitude OF
/ the United States Lawn Tennis Associa-
ton in the matter, and expressing regret
that the Federations last meeting indi-
Gated there was no immediate prospect
of reaching an agreement.
Washburn's letter, in part, follows:
"Our chief difficulty is ono that main
of the International Federation AWARDS
the worlds ohampionship on grass
Synonymous with world 3 ampionshtp
to Wimbledon in perpetuity. The other
members OF the federation. who granted
this privilege, are naturally not in a
position to seek to revoke It. The In
itiatiVe must come from England her-
self
We appeal with the utmost con-
fdence to the sense of fair play OF tho
British tennis officials and the British
public to do the right thing in this case.
The Wimbledon tournament Is n0wh here
more respected than In the United
wish to @ see it's it's spiendId old fa0 t4aaitions afh
bedecked with new and gaudy frills.
The retention by ENGLAND OF any
the. principles Of competition that pre-
vail in all sports, SO inherently unjust
that l fear the United States VIII never
subscribe to any agreement which SAM
tions such an arrangement.
AS to the decision of our Davis Cup
committee with reference 10 new
5raw 5rascned as Dy soon ba I.rb this NATE was
gave Immediate consent. notifying both
Australia and France of the decision.
/ We are glad indeed that France and
/ Canada will be able to play for the
trophy this year ,and under no ctrcum-
stances would desire to take any tech
entry. We have, however, stated 10 the
countries involved our belief that in a
/ Davis Cup for which the regulations
are widely published, the closing da-e
ought to be strictly observed. This is
merely an opinion to apply to the future
and has no bearing the case now
under discussion.
This association has proposed TO the
British association and to the French
that its tie with France under the new
draw should be played in England On
July s. With travelling conditions as
they are at present and the extraordi-
nary amount of travelling that might he
involved under the present Davis cup
draw il we requested European nation
to play a preliminary tie In the United
States, we thought ii obviously the sim
plest plan for the United States to- send
a team abroad. / trust that this d.
cision will commend itself to you. We
felt also that ii would be only a far
return for the courtesy which England
has shown US in years past in sending
| her players here for the prelinlinlrics