The New York herald., 1921-03-01
NO EXPENSE MONEY
FOR MILE. LENGLEN
But Way Is Open for European
Tennis Champion to Com
pete Here.
ny SAMUEL j. BRooKMAN.

No expense money has been offered
to Mile. Suzanne Lenglen of France. the
Continental tennis champion. to visit
America this summer. Neither has she
been invited directly by the United
States Lawn Tennis Association, al
though the American officials are anx-
tous to have her make her appearance
here this coming season. What the
United States Lawn Tennis Association
did do in a letter dated January 81 was
TO notify the French Tennis Association
OF its decision 10 send William T. Til
den I'd and Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt NAL
lory to the French championships and
to invite the French to send its leading
players. Mile. Lenglen included to the
American championships later In the
season.
No Expenses for Amateurs.
That being the case, tennis headquar-
ters yesterday was at a loss to account
for the statement In a cable from Eu-
rope that the American offer Of expense
money had been inadequate and that
Nile Lenglen would stay at home for
that reason. II was pointed out clearly
In the letter to the French association
In January that the United States Lawn
Tennis Association did not approve OF
paying any expenses Of foreign players.
but was perfectly willing to defray the
expenses OF its own players In official
trips abroad. The suggestion was made
that France adopt the same policy.
II appears. however. that the French
association Is In no position to finance
any international tennis trip. having been
in existence only since early last year.
when the tennis branch Of the General
Athletic Association decided TO form an
organization OF Its own. So whether or
not the French agree with the policy OF
the Americans they cannot afford to ex-
tend the same privileges TO their players.
There Is was. out of the difficulty,
however. II the French Government Of
ficials care to become Interested In Mile.
Lenglen's invasion OF American courts.
Since the conclusion of the world war
there have been n number OF French rep
resentatives In this country working for
the cause OF devastated France. Their
efforts have resulted in augmentlng the
fund substantially. Sport has contributed
a share, Miss Anne Morgan, for instance.
having arranged lightweight champion
ship boxing bout at Madison Square
Garden that drew n record house"
There Is no reason why tennis, with the
assistance OF the United States Lawn
Tennis Association and Mile. Lenglen,
cannot auu lWrtner 10 llle Contributions.
French Expert Could Help France
To come to the point. The French
Government, II IL 80 pleaseE. can defray
the expenses OF the famous girl tennis
champion and can rest assured that the
investment would net the fund a hand
some profit. Mile. Lenglcn could make a
circuit OF the principal tennis centres In
the country and draw tremendous gall
leries wherever she went. Tennis fans In
America are Intensely interested in her
appearance In this country and would
support the exhibition matches literally
The United States Lawn Tennis Asso-
ciation. too, II may be said safely. would
not hesitate to contribute q share Of the
national championship receipts to the
fund X the French girl made her ap-
pearance in the title tournament. a
womeu's national championship at Forest
Hills with Mile. Lcnglen az competitor
would draw almost as well as the mems
national singles, which In recent years
has taxed the capacity Of the West Side
Tennis Club stands. It ls suggestion
worth consideration by French officials
Whether or not France decides TO send
her leading tennis players to this coun-
try, Tlden and Mrs. Mallory Will be
competitors In the French championships,
which start the last week In May.