Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-14
makes FIRM DENIAL
British Consul at New Orleans
Blames Newspaper Report
For Alleged Criticisms.
Denies That He Reviled Ameri-
can People :. Government
Will Uphold Him.
Boer AGENT Threatens to Brine
Suit For Alleged Libel
Gus Statements.

New Orleans, Aug. 14.-Arthur Van.
Sittart, British consul at this city, who
is charged with having denounced the
press and the American people apropos
fed yesterday that the department of
state might give his case some attention
to see If his hostility to the American
people did not render him persona non
grata. Mr.. Van Sittart denied the Ian
guage attributed to him, and said:
1t is perfectly absurd, you know. I
could not have said such thing. ]
have had these things happen to me so
often that 1t is getting to be nuisance
Do you blame me for being bluff and
sometimes impolite to reporters when
they go away and put such things in
my mouth as these words? 1t is a
shame to take advantage of man when
you know that his high official position
forbids him writing denial. The evil
dence of the confidence Of my govern
ment in me is the fact that / am still
here. Three years ago, you know, they
erably.
This scheme will fall to the ground
the same way. / have only to put my
word against that of reporter, and the
department at Washington will believe
me. They know where came from.
and / do not know where the reporters
come from, and this all there is to it,
| you know.
| "All that / will have to do about this
matter is to say that 1 did not say it,
| and / know that the secretary OF state
| Will take my word against that OF any
reporter. / can laugh at the reporters
when they try to put me in hole like
| this, because l know that they cannot
do it. you know.
II think the whole thing arises from
1 the fact that i treated a reporter rather
dscourteously the other morning.
The matter will not be allowed TO rest
| there, however, when Consul Van Sit
/ tart during the Spanish war, made I'M
complimentary and even hostile re-
marks about the American people, he
| got out of the difficulty by denying the
remarks and placing his word against
4 that of the reporter who interviewed
him. This time. however, irritated by
the Mecanician explosion, he became
more excited and made the same re-
marks again against Americans as
| those objected to. Several reporters who
heard him separately and away from
each other, are willing to make affidavl.
to his language.
1t has also come out that even IL
transacting consular business he has
/ frequently treated his visitors to TRADE
against the American people. and that a
number of business men are wiling to
testify to that effect. The entire matter
will probably be latd before United
States Senator Foster. with the request
that he call it to the attention of the
department and ask for Van Sittart':
removal.
General Pearson, the Boer agent here
thru his attorneys, Messrs. Clegg ant
Quintro, has determined to bring sui
against Consul Van Sittart for $4,000
The action is the result of statement
made by Mr.. Van Sittart to the chic
of police when the Consul demanded t
; know why General Pearson had no
been arrested In connection with tn
blowing UP of the Mechanician, with tn
result that detectives were detailed 7
follow the Boer officer. Several by
.. ISLANDERS heard the statements made b
Mr.. Van Sittart and reported them t
General Pearson, who consulted hi
lawyers and decided upon prompt an
yigprOlJS p1ea Snr6E.