AArizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona, July 13, 1953 - Page 13 — Russians Cancel Chess Tourneys With U.S. Group — New York, July 12—(AP)—The U.S. chess federation said tonight that Russian chess authorities have called off a scheduled Soviet-U.S. chess match here.
The American federation, saying it learned of the cancellation via Radio Moscow, immediately sent a letter of protest to the international chess federation. The letter termed the Russian action “a blow to world chess prestige.”
Milan Greer, American chess federation spokesman who said he monitored Radio Moscow, quoted the Soviet announcement as saying that U.S. state department restrictions on movements of the chess players while in New York had made the match impossible.
Fifteen Russian chess players and officials already were in Paris on their way to the U.S. on Thursday when they canceled without explanation their passage on the liner Queen Elizabeth. It was not then known whether they intended to book later passage.
Greer released the text of a letter sent by the American federation to Folke Rogard, of Stockholm, Sweden, president of the international federation.
The letter said the Americans learned of the cancellation of the match “with deep regret and consternation.” It added:
“…The United States chess federation match committee has made extensive preparations for the match and is suffering hardship and embarrassment by this late cancellation. … For this inconsiderate and unwarranted treatment, the United States chess federation match committee herewith registers its protest.”
The letter, signed by committee chairman Alexander Bisno, noted that American chess players had since 1946 sought a return match with the Russians, who beat the U.S. team in Moscow in 1946.
A U.S. federation spokesman has said Russian failure to show up may leave the federation with a $10,000 deficit.
Russians Cancel Chess Tourneys With U.S. Group 13 Jul 1953, Mon Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Newspapers.com
