862.20210/2053: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:32 p.m.]
2302. Our 2286, November 16, 8 p.m. Napp arrested last night. This due efforts provincial police, not capital police. Happened as follows: provincial police assigned Napp case November 12 after local police failed. Two officers provincial police who have cooperated with us for several months called on Embassy yesterday for advice. We supplied all our information on possible whereabouts Napp and made suggestion as to how search should be conducted. [Page 250] The officers followed our advice to letter and 6 hours later took Napp into custody at his home.
Provincial police plan to keep Napp’s arrest secret for few days until they have secured confession from him. They must deliver him to local police as soon as it is known he is arrested. So far he has admitted connection with Friedrich Kempter and Ottomar Müller and Informadora Rápida but denies knowledge of Rata, Berko, Otis, Koenig. He states he knows Müller attempted to purchase bomb sight from Argentine official. Disclaims knowledge of Walter Freiwald’s activities, but knows him. Admits he is agronomist by profession and knows nothing of business matters, stating has lost his shirt on various attempted business deals. Admits he was on propaganda program with Müller over Radio Callao.