The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-31
Cuban Minister Declares Eff
fort IS Being Made to EN-
broil Island Republic With
United States.
REPORTER A TOOL
FOR THE PLOTTERS
Personal Assault on Charge
d'AffaireS Followed Venom
Gus Attacks on Americans
in the Press.

VA TASHINGTON, Aug. 3d. That
NM Enrique Maza, the reporter
Wv who attacked Hugh Gibson,
American charge 'affaires of
the legation in Havana, last Monday
night, was merely tool in the hands
of Cuban plotters who are antagouistic
to the United States and would like
TO get the Cuban government into trou-
BILE with this country, was the opinion
expressed here today by Senior Martin
| Rlvero, the Cuban minister.
he was of the belief, he said, that
Maza had not attacked Mr.. Gibson of
his own volition, but that he had
been urged On by others who had made
him think he had been insulted and
that he should seek revenge.
under no circumstances, no matter
what his provocation may have been,
said the minister, was Maza Justified
in the action he took. That Justice
would be done in the case was the dec
laration Of Senior Martin -Rivero.
Send Word to Cuba.
The minister has notified his gov
ernment of the demands Of the United
States that the assai1ant be punished.
AS soon as he learned of the attack,
the minister spontaneously sent word
to Cuba,' he said, "that the United
States had laws, rendering virtually
immune from attack the persons OF
foreign representatives here, aud on
account Of this reciprocity, the full
vigor of the Cuban law could be ap-
piled. In case of country which does
not protect Cuban representatives, ]"
said the minister" no further rights are
extended to its diplomats than to any
other foreigner.
Attacks in Press.
Tho state department late today was
informed by the legation at Havana
of the attacks that have been made
by a portion of the Cuban press upon
Hugh Gibson, charge Of the American
legation, upon the American contrac-
tors, the pressing Of whose claim for
compensation caused personal assault
upon Mr.. Gibson, and upon the United
States government and people. The
officials Of the state department said
these articles were dlsgraceful, and
while they were not prepared to an
nounce their purpose, it was evident
that strong representations are to be
made to the Cuban government against
the treatment of an American diplo-
matte officer.
Some of the officials, who by reason
of service with the American govern.
meut of intervention In Cuba, are thor
oughly acquainted with the Cuban
code, are satisfied that the writers OF
these defauatory articles have laid
themselves open to punishment for
criminal libel.
Tried to Force Duel.
Some of the Havana articles are re-
garded as having been written with
the deliberate purpose of trying to
force a duel upon the American charge.
The state department will never per-
NIT its representative to be drawn
into any such personal quarrel, and il
will look to the Cuban government to
deal summarily and severely with any
individual or newspaper guilty of vio'
lating the laws Of diplomatic privilege
common to civilized countries.
For the same reason the department
will look with disfavor upon attempts
on tho part Of some Cubans to bring
about The recall of Mr.. Gibson, tax
ing the ground that such demand
could be based only on his personal
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