The New York herald., 1921-05-09
AMERICAS TENNIS
VIEWS GAIN FAVOR
Federation Inclining to Our
Attitude on Worlds Cham
pionship Tourney.

That the United States Lawn Tennis
world championship tournament and in
other International tennis problems is
winning approval in Europe is indicated
by unofficial news OF the discussion that
took place at the last meeting OF the
international Tennis Federation In Paris.
According to word received last week.
the American tennis officials soon will
be requested to redraft their proposals
on international tennis questions and to
present them at the next meeting of the
federation.
1t will be remembered that the United
States associations decision to remain
out of the federation rested chiefly on
their objection to the permanent award
of the worlds championship tournament
to Wimbledon on this subject as well
as on the question OF developing new
players of international calibre in Great
Britain, the Field OF London comments
Interestingly as follows:
Last December at the annual gen.
eral meeting its council brought forward
two resolutions. both OF which. as the
delegates proved by their votes. were
obviously detrimental TO the interests
OF the game, and one Of which, had il
been carried, must have provided serious
friction with the American Association
and possibly done irreparable damage
10 the championship meeting. The coun-
ell was saved on that occasion by the
good sense OF the meeting, but clearly
something is wrong when the defeat of
a policy that bears the official mark of
approval Is subsequently welcomed by
many members Of the council. A re-
treat that is hailed as deliverance does
not give dignity or substance to the
original battle cry.
A Meaningless Title.
"Over the whole business of the In
ternational Federation and the estab-
lishment by that incomplete body OF
worlds championships the association
has shown neither wisdom nor pre-
science. They accepted on behalf of
this country title which was foreign
to the organization of our amateur
sports-a title which was superimposed
on the championship meeting at Wimble-
don against the sounder instincts Of its
committee, and a title which could not
be universally acknowledged unless
America had been a party to its con-
ferment. 1t is d that the Americans
have tactly ac ted the principle of
the worlds chan onships by compet-
ing at Wimbledon Americans played
at Wimbledon as far back as the Rem
shaw period; they have come over al
most annually ever since; they have
never regarded Wimbledon as anything
else but the headquarters of the game.
There was never any occasion to paint
the lily. Neither the players in this
country nor the executive committee or
the championships wanted that act OF
supererogation performed by the asso-
citation. and the sooner the step is re-
traced the better II will be for every
body concerned.
"One has only to glance at the pro-
gramme of the worlds covered court
championships, held at Copenhagen
last week, to realize the farcical char
acter Of these meetings. France and
England each sent two players. the rest
were Scandinavians. The winners of
the five events are entitled to describe
themselves as world champions but
the dignity will be barren and mislead-
ing.
"As to selections for representative
British teams. the association on the
whole has chosen well. The Davis cup
team Of 1919 could not after the great
upheayal be anything but experimental.
and the fact that ii should have de-
feated France on its own courts at
Deauville is a sufficient proof OF its
worthiness. The team of 1920, reduced
as IL was for playing purposes TO two
men. could not have been improved. II
did better against America. the subse-
auent victors, than either France or
Australasia; indeed. with a little more
luck and little less war handicap. ii
might have defeated Messrs. Tilden and
Johnston. Three of the four matches
were carried into five sets. No Briton
need despise British lawn tennis when
two men who helped to fight its battles
under fire for five years were able TO
play as gallantly as Major Kingscote
and Mr.. ParSe at Wimbledon last sum
mer.