File No. 837.911/12.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Habana, February 6, 1913—1 p.m.
In an article covering the full front page of yesterday’s issue, the newspaper “Cuba” made a specific accusation that Gibson and I, through the levying of blackmail and graft, have enriched ourselves in various local enterprises. The article is unspeakably scurrilous, of an inflammatory character and calculated to incite to further violence against the members of this Legation. Failure to proceed against this [Page 406] newspaper for past offenses has encouraged it to increase the violence of its attacks. The Cuban Government has repeatedly expressed readiness to prosecute libelous publications upon the request of the Legation, and I strongly recommend that I be authorized to request the Cuban Government to take action in this case for criminal libel.