The Daily Missoulian., 1912-08-31
iAssAuLTi OF REPORTER ON
AMERICAN CHANGE p'AFFAlREs
SAID TO De INSPIRED.
TROUBLE IS IN SIGHT
eress o. the Island Republic, In Part,
Bald 70 'es Aiming Osfamatory A..
taeks at Americans and This Gov.
ernment ~ Trouble. Makers Want
Charge TO Take Part In q Duel.

Washington. Aug. 30.-That ENRIQUE
Maza. the reporter who attacked
Hugh Gibson. American charge of the
sesation In Havana. last Monday night
was merely a tool In the hands ol
Cuban plotters. who are antagonistit
to the United States and who would
like to get the Cuban government into
trouble with this country. was the
opinion expressed here today by Sem
or Antonio Martin Rivero. the Cuban
minister. He was OF the belief that
Maxa had been urged on by others
who had made him think he had been
insulted and that nc should seek re-
Venge
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 ~ done In the case was the
declaration Of senor Martin Rivero.
y Demand for Punishment.
T, The srslpister has notified his gov
ernment' OF the demands of the United
States that the assaliant 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 person of
foreiNn representatives there and that
on account of this reciprocity. the
full risor lbf the Cuban law could be
applied. In case OF country which
does not protect Cuban representa-
tives. no further rights are extended
TO ks din'omats than to any other
foreigner"
The state department late tonight
was Informed by the legation at Ha-
vana Of the attacks that have been
made hv portion Of the Cuban press
upon Hugh Gibson. charge OF the
american legation. upon the Amerl-
can contractors, the pressing OF whose
claim for compensation caused n per-
sonal assault upon Gibson. and upon
the United States government and the
people. The officials Of the state de-
partment said these articles were dis
graceful and while they were not pre-
pared to announce their purpose. It
was evident that strong representa-
lions are to be made TO the Cuban
government against this treatment OF
an American diplomatic officer.
Grounds for Libel.
Some officials. who by reason OF
service with the American govern
ment an the intervention In Cuba, arc
thoroughly acquainted with the Cuban
code, are satisfied that the writer's of
these defamatory articles have laid |
themselves open to punishment for
criminal libel.
Some Of the articles are regarded as
having been written with the delib-
crate purpose OF trying to force a
duel upon the American charge. The
state department will never permit It's
representatives. to be drawn into any
such personal quarrel and It will look
TO the Cuban government to deal
summarily and severely with any In
dividual or newspaper guilty OF vio-
lating the laws OF diplomatic privi-
lege common to civilized countries.
For the same reason the department
Will look with disfavor upon attempts
on the part OF the Cubans to bring
about the recall OF Gibson. taking the
ground that such demand. only
could be based upon his personal mis-
conduct.