“I understand your position, Juan Domingo. But—the reason I asked you to receive me on such short notice—I have come up with a rough plan that, since Cletus Frade is in the United States, poses no threat to him whatever.”
“We don’t know when he will return,” Perón said.
“But not within the next three or four days, wouldn’t you agree?”
“No, of course not,” Perón said impatiently. “He just got there. He has to do what has to be done to get the SAA pilots the licenses Lloyd’s of London insists they have to have, however long—three or four days—that will take, and then fly back here.”
“De Filippi will know,” Cranz said. “More important, will he tell you when Frade will actually be here?”
“Of course.”
“And you will tell me?”
“Why would you want to know?”
“As I said, Juan Domingo, I know, and respect, your feeling vis-à-vis your godson. If I know when he will return, I can either adjust my plan, or call it off completely, if it would in any way put Frade at risk.”
“I’m glad we understand one another,” Perón said.
“May I speak bluntly, Juan Domingo?”
“Please do.”
“I think you are as aware as I am of the problems the Froggers will cause both of us if we can’t return them to German control and get them out of Argentina.”
“Let’s hear what you have in mind,” Perón said tartly.
“The reason I’m sure the Froggers are in Tandil is that one of my men has seen them there.”
“You sent someone from the SS to Tandil?” Perón asked on the edge of anger.
“I sent an Argentine, an ethnic German who works for me, down there to see what he could learn. Would you like to hear from him what that is?”
“How could I do that?
“He’s here, in the foyer. May I get him?”
Perón considered that for a long moment.
“You did consider, of course, that Martín’s men would see you bringing him here? What that would mean?”
“I’m sure they did,” Cranz said, smiling. “He was driving my car; he’s my chauffeur.”
Perón considered that a moment, then smiled.
“You are good at what you do, aren’t you, Karl? Yes. Bring him in.”
[THREE]
Building T-209
Senior German Officer Prisoner of War Detention
Facility
Camp Clinton, Mississippi
1850 6 August 1943