862.20210/2024: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8—6:42 a.m.]
2207. Embassy’s 2206, November 7, 4 p.m. Following are results of conversation between Minister Interior and Vice Consul English this afternoon.
[Page 246]George Hohenstein von Lug confessed his and Ottomar Müller’s guilt probably implicating others. Walter Riewald [Freiwald] owns yacht anchored hundred yards from shore in River Plate. From his statements police believe radio transmitter to be aboard but low water precludes their boarding it now; it is under vigilance of guards on shore until water rises. Ottomar Müller arrested. Hans Napp escaped.
It is strange that police raided Napp’s home and office November 4th but waited until 6th before trying to make arrest. Embassy had Napp under surveillance all this time and until evening of 6th Napp frequented usual haunts, showed no sign of alarm. Müller and Freiwald also under Embassy surveillance but police finally arrested them.
Culaciati83 claims radio in possession Hirner not a transmitter.
Culaciati has refused two offers of Embassy to loan Embassy official to cooperate with police. He stated frankly that reason was he did not wish police to know Americans had anything to do with the matter. This implies that memorandum not given to police and that police consequently unable judge importance of matter or intelligently question agents after arresting them. Culaciati exhibits considerable lack of knowledge regarding progress being made. When asked if von Schulz-Hausmann or Thilo Martens arrested answered “many agents have been detained”. Hausmann and Martens have much influence in official and social circles.
Several letters obtained from Hausmann P. O. Box not very interesting. One is from P. Lock and Cía. Casilla 1286 Santiago Chile. Buchwald’s safe deposit box in National City Bank opened; nothing of interest. Buchwald still at large.
- Argentine Minister of the Interior.↩