Evening star., 1933-02-19
ENGLAND, FRANCE
] DEADLY OPPOSED
American Amateurs Who
Face Pros Liable to Lose
: Status in Europe.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

n JEW YORK, February 17.-As
IN if there we're not enough
i Y issues of various sorts
: clar1oring for adjustment
as between England and France
and the United States, a sporting
complication now arises.
1t relates to the decision of the
United States Lawn Tennis ASSoci-
alton to sanction the holding of
a. national open lawn tennis
championship this year.
-1nasmuch as France and other con-
tinental countries in the International
Tennis Federation always have stead
fastly opposed such project, inasmuch
as England is dead against it, the
chances are that the U. S. L. T. A.
has let itself in for an unpleasant in
ternational situation.
We stand as having abrogated inter
national agreements and we face the
strong probability OF having any of our
amateur players who participate III an
open tourney barred from competition
in tournaments held under the auspices
OF the international body.
Will LOI, 1Ol ChdIllplt, UC ptI-
i mitted to enter the famous tour
nament at Wimbledon. H. H.
Monckton, one of the important men,
bers of the British Association. made a
definite statement to this effect imme-
lately following receipt of cable dis
patches setting forth the action of our
National tennis organization.
Wimbledon would suffer greatly if
the British were to maintain any such
position. Undoubtedly they will; for
our overseas cousins are as dogged and
determined in the matter of a principle
of sport as in principle of whatever
nature. They would see their tourna-
ment lose caste rs an expression of
world tennis rather than yield a moral
point as important as this one is
American players, men and women,
have long been valued contenders at
Wimbledon. Their proficiency in the
game has added accent to the sporting
character of play there, while their
cplorful qualities have enhanced their
value as drawing cards.
IF THEY were barred, Wimbledon
i would pay in terms Of gate receipts
and in prestige. But the British
would not consider this. Character
istically, they would hew to the line and
III SO QOUg anything IN the way OF cor
diality, common esteem and mutual un-
Outstanding effected by tennis relation
ship between the two countries in the
course of the last three decades would
60 by the board
And what about France? What
about the Davis Cup? What about
esarything? It is all too distressing-..he
more distressing inasmuch as matters OF
economic consideration rather than
sport appear TO have dictated the action
OF the y. S. L. T. A.
EOR years this body had resisted
! agitation favoring an open tourney;
but it was not until the need of
revenue-producing event for an old and
famous tennis organization, the Ger
mantown Cricket Club, became trying
one, that the tennis association changed
its attitude toward sanctioning a meet
Ing among mercenaries and Simon
pures.
. An amusing note is added, appropri-
etely enough, by Bill Tilden, who. in
applauding the action of the associa-
ton, said he could not speak definitely
about his own participation until the
date OF the tournament was decided
upon. We wonder if by any chance
the date of the open tourney will run
counter to any Of Big Bills engage
ments.