New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-04
CUBA MAKES OFFICE
FOR CHESS CHAMPION
Establishes Consulate in St. Pc
terSburg and Puts Jose R.
CapabIanCa in Charge.
CAN MEET RUSSIAN PLAYER
Numerous Changes Announced,
Including Transfer of Mariana
Rocafort from New York
to Antwerp.
lRy Cnhle 10 The Trlhun. !

Havana, July 3.-The changes in the
Cuban consular corps in New York
would be made have been ordered by
the State Department. They include the
transfer Of Mariana Rocafort consul
general i'm New York, to Antwerp. The
criticisms Of the Menocal government
for the political reprisals on the APP
rointees Of ex-President Gomez have
given way To a spirit Of amusement
over the latest move OF the government
In the matter Of appointing consular
attaches.
II is pointed out that while General
Gomez might have been prolific in the
matter Of spending the government
funds. most OF the money was ex-
pended at home, while the Menocal
regime is needlessly taxing the Cuban
Treasury for unnecessary expenditures
abroad. This particular criticism re-
fers To the esta blishment OF a Cuban
'OlSuldlF III 81 Ni0'Ni - 'N''t''''''
which admittedly is TO give job to
Jose r. Capa blanca. the Cuban chess
champion, who has been appointed as
vice-consul al the new consulate. The
purpose Of creating the consulate and
the appointment OF Capablanca, II
would appear, is to enable him 10 play
Russian chess champion in ST.
Petersburg. the latter having refused
TO meet the Cuban wizard in Havana.
Capa blanca has gone to New York, and
from there he will go to his official post
to play chess. 1t seems
The Cuban people are proud OF the
prowess Of Capablanca, but chess is
not the national game, many preferring
baseball and others "jai alai," while
still others would like 10 have bull
fights and cockfights II the law did not
forbid them. Under no circumstances.
however, do they see why the govern
ment should spend the money OF the
country just 10 make II possible for
Cana blanca to add 10 his great reputa-
ton.
Properly to man the new consulate II
was necessary TO appoint second
class consul at SlGG 66 a month, while
the chess playing official will receive
500 a month. Added to these two sal
aries is an item OF S66 a month for the
expenses Of the consulate. So far as is
known there is no business between ST.
Petersburg and Havana. AS one prom
inent politician remarked: Il am In
favor Of having the government send
the AImendares baseball team TO New
York. Maybe we can find some com
missionerships for them
Senior Rocafort. who has been trans
ferred to Antwerp. is the dean OF the
Cuban consular corps, having been the
first appointed in 1902 by President
Estrada Palma, who made him consul
in Philadelphia. He has served as con-
sui general in New York for four years.
Senior Rocafort will be succeeded by
Ieopoldo Doll, a brother OF Senator
Dolz and now consul of the first class
in Mobile. Filipe Taboada. formerly
Havana newspaper man, viii remain In
New York as first consul, while Ernest
Mantilla, who had been chancellor, has
heen promoted to be vice-consul. j. a.
Torralbas and f. Pimentel have been
Amounted chancellors OF the consulate
in New York. l.. Valdes Roig, who had
been vice-consul, has been transferred
TO Malaga, Spain.