MAXWELL WOULD NOT RENEW BID IF SUIT FAILS British press magnate Robert Maxwell said his British Printing and Communication Corp Plc would not renew its bid for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc <HBJ> if the lawsuit filed against Harcourt in New York today fails. Speaking at a press conference, Maxwell denied market rumors that British Printing had approached British institutions to arrange a rights issue with a view to relaunching its bid for the U.S. publishing concern. "I don't believe in chasing mirages," maxwell said. British Printing filed suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to block what Maxwell called a fraudulent recapitalization announced by Harcourt last week. Harcourt, in response to a hostile two billion dlr takeover proposal from Maxwell, planned a recapitalization that would pay shareholders 40 dlrs per share. Under the plan, it also said 40 pct of its shares will be controlled by its employees, management, and its financial adviser, First Boston Corp <FBC>.