31 AUGUST 1929, Page 3

The British answer was that the international rules governing the

race were not capable of alteration, and that, in any case, the British alone could not alter them. This interpretation of the rules has since been confirmed by the governing international body. We are glad of this confirmation, as an international contest of this sort would become unmanageable if it were to depend on subtle versions of good sportsmanship. It is much better that each country should abide by its own accidents. The two-year period of preparation between the races is long enough, and ought not to be capriciously changed. The weather naturally favours some countries more than others, but the Englishman must be rare indeed who would argue that the weather particularly favours him.