US ousts Cuban official on 'Pied Piper' charge

February 12, 1981

The United States has ordered a Cuban official to leave the country on grounds he enticed american businessmen into illegal deals with Havana, the State Department said. Department spokesman William Dyess identified the official as Ricardo Escartin, first secretary of the Cuban interest section in Washington, and said he had also been involved in intelligence activities.

The spokesman said Mr. Escartin, placed under observance by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had been actively engaged in trying to set up covert business relationships between US companies and the governmen t of Cuba.