[blml] Are the laws clear on telling pard to ask a question?

[Jerry Fusselman]

I was declarer as South, and while West was considering her lead, East
said, "Wait!  What did your (my) 2S bid show?"  2S was alerted, but no
one asked during the auction.  The director was called and ruled that
I should not answer East's question at that time.  Then West, who had
not yet selected her lead, asked the same question.  The director
ruled I had to answer and West could base her lead on my answer.
Presumably he felt there is nothing in the laws to prevent it.

I think you all see the problem, but are the laws truly crystal clear
on this?  I still think the intent of the laws should be obvious:
Since East is forbidden to ask at that time, then West should be not
able to ask East's question either.  (Also, East's question probably
creates UI, but I am ignoring that issue here.)  Apparently, 73A or
73B were not clearly applicable to this case for this director, who
could cite 75A as more important than 20F2.  When I answered the
question (fourth-suit forcing to game, says nothing about spades), the
director left, satisfied that his work here was done.  Then West chose
her lead.

Is there any existing law I could have asked the director to consider?
 Will the laws be clearer on this issue next year?  Or should I hope
this is all moot and the problem is too unlikely to appear again?

-Jerry Fusselman