The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-19
TENNIS ACCORD NOW
UP TO FEDERATION
Worlds Championship Award
Remains Only Obstacle to
Americas Joining.
BY SAMUEL J. BROoKMAN.

Whether another season will see the
United States member of the Ipterna-
tional Tennis Federation seems to be
entirely up to the delegates of the other
tennis playing countries represented at
the international conference in London
December 20. The United States Lawn
Tennis Association has stated its posi-
ton firmly and clearly ever since the
close of the world war revived interest
in International competition; namely.
that 1t could not see its way clear to
join the federation unless the world
championship tournament which had
been awarded to England in perpetuity
were permitted to rotate from season to
season around the circuit of the leading
tennis playing countries. No single
country, the American organizat ton has
contended. should have the blue ribbon
event of tennis as its own indefinitely.
British tennis officials have been in a
rather awkward position on the ques-
ton. Many OF them have recognized the
justice of the Americans stand but
have had their hands tied by promise
made to subscribers TO bonds that made
the building Of the new Wimbledon
possible. The award of the world cham
plonship tournament in perpetuity had
been the magnet that attracted the bond
subscriptions. 1t assured the financial
success of Wimbledon for an indefinite
period and rendered the bonds good
investment
OF late. however. there have been in
dications in British tennis circles Of a
Willingness to have the original award
OF the title event modified Apparently
the bond holders have been swayed by
the tennis critics and by the assur-
ances OF some Of their officials that
with the great strides tennis is making
imofedon was bound to be a success
even IL the worlds event were permit
ted to rotate; that the British cham
pionships. attracting as they do the
stars of all Europe and some of the best
of other continents as well were prom
inent enough to insure the ssfety of the
bond holders investments.
The time therefore seems ripe for
complete accord not only on the sub
iect of universal rules but or the award
of championships. The United State
Lawn Tennis Association is to send its
delegates primarily to discuss rules but
the all important topic will be inter-
rational competition
The suggestion has been made that
the worlds singles championship be
held annually in the Davis cup holding
country. where il is logical to expect the
greatest gathering Of international ten
mis- players. but the objection to this is
that IL IS quite possible one country
may hold on to the Davis cup for a
long period and thus have a monopoly
on the worlds singles as Well as the
world team matches over number of
years. For that reason the rotation
idea is likely to be preferred by the
majority.
The question of the seeded draw will
come up again before the delegates At
the next annual convention here in
February. and the consensus appears
to be that ii will be retained for ma
tional championships IL not for all tour
naments In the midwest. however.
there is strong sentiment in favor -
making the seeding of the draw OPP
tional with tournament committees in
events OF purely sectional character.
and an amendment to that effect prob
ably will be offered at the meeting.