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Chess by Isaac Kashdan Sun, Feb 27, 1972 – 128 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
Russians Protest Decision On Match
The Soviet Union Chess Federation cabled a strong protest to Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam against his decision that the match for the world championship between titleholder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union and challenger Bobby Fischer of the U.S. be held in Belgrade and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Splitting the match between two countries was a violation of the rules and unacceptable to Spassky, according to the cable.
Dr. Euwe, who is president of the International Chess Federation, replied that he had been given full authority by the federation to make any ruling in regard to the match, if the players could not come to agreement.
The matter was discussed at length at the world congress in Vancouver last year. The Russians agreed that the match would be started before the end of June, and that any necessary decisions would be made by Dr. Euwe.
No appeal was possible, since the next congress is scheduled to meet in September, which is too late.
Besides the site, possible problems may arise in the choice of a match director, days and hours of play, etc.
Dr. Euwe suggested that the protest be discussed at a meeting of federation officials, previously called for next Thursday and Friday in Moscow.
Edmund B. Edmondson, executive director of the U.S. Chess Federation, was invited to the meeting. He started that he did not plan to attend, as only routine matters were on the agenda.
However, Edmondson might go to Moscow, if there were any evidence that the Russians were ready to agree on the match conditions, and if they fully acknowledged Dr. Euwe's authority.
