recognition should the Allied Powers find serious reasons for withholding it. I mentioned our policy of avoiding the impression of hasty actions regarding recognition, especially in Europe, and reminded Fan Noli that the late regime had failed to fulfill its promises as to equality of opportunity and bringing the murderers to justice." He replied that his stand regarding the former was so well known that he need not repeat it and that an early favorable answer would be given regarding the punishment of the murderers. My recommendation is that we obtain from the new Government formal engagements respecting the two matters mentioned above. Do I have authority to take any action constituting recognition? GRANT-SMITH 875.01/243: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, June 24, 1924-1 p.m. 39. Legation's 56 of June 19 and 58 of June 21. Unless the head of the State has been changed, the question of recognition does not seem to arise. There is no objection to your continuing to carry on with the present Government the relations which you had with the preceding one if in your opinion it is properly constituted, stable, and in control of the country. You are authorized at your discretion to continue such relations. Department desires telegraphic report of your action. HUGHES 875.01/244: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, June 25, 1924-6 p.m. 41. Legation's 59, June 22, and Department's 39, June 23 [24]. Department records do not show receipt of any message from Fan Noli either through consul of Albania at New York or from any other source. Your suggestion that you should impress upon present regime the importance attached by this Government to prompt and vigorous action for the punishment of those responsible for the murder of Coleman and De Long is approved. 'Robert Lewis Coleman and George B. de Long, Americans, were murdered by bandits in Albania, Apr. 6, 1924. In its telegram 39 of June 23 [24], the Department answered inquiry in final sentence of your telegram. Telegraph promptly if you feel that additional instructions are needed on this point. HUGHES 875.01/245: Telegram The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] TIRANA, July 2, 1924-9 a.m. 62. Department's 39 of June 24. Greece is the only country which has given unconditional recognition to Fan Noli's government. The only failure to reply to his direct telegram was by the British Prime Minister. The Greek and Italian representatives have established formal relations with the government, but in the latter case with the reservations previously reported. The Servians will doubtless delay recognition. They are much concerned over the Irredentist influence which is apparent in the new regime, and Ahmed Zogu is at Belgrade. The French express [omission]. The only remaining regent, whose term expires next fall, has gone on indefinite leave, ostensibly for reasons of health, and his functions have been professedly transferred to the Prime Minister who states that there will be no elections before March 1925. Under these circumstances there is no remaining head of the State and the government proposes to start its program of much-needed agrarian and social reform unhampered by a legislative body. There is no longer any pretension that the government has a legal status under the constitution. I shall not address any formal communications to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I propose to hand to him impersonal memoranda of important conversations if such action is needed. GRANT-SMITH 875.00/157: Telegram The Chargé in Albania (Kodding) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] TIRANA, September 16, 1924-8 a.m. 8 71. I am mailing a report giving details of the alleged dissatisfaction which is accumulating with respect to the present Government of Albania. The opposition here and abroad is aided in accentuating differences between the regions and parties which united to over 'Not printed. throw the former Government by the uncompromising attitude of the present regime on land-tenure reforms in contrast with its inability to pay salaries and its vacillating policy concerning appointments. The British Minister does not conceal his belief that a revolution will occur within two weeks. In other quarters, however, the feeling is that a crisis will not develop, at least until after the harvest, because of the work and contentment resulting from a very good crop. Since the departure of Minister Grant-Smith there has been at no time such a change of conditions as would justify my reopening the question of recognition. KODDING 375.1123 Coleman and De Long/89: Telegram The Chargé in Albania (Kodding) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] TIRANA, October 10, 1924-4 p. m. [Received October 11-3: 52 p. m.] 78. Your 48, September 22, 4 p. m. There is no improvement in the weakened position of the Albanian head of State and Cabinet, which Legation indicated in its 71, September 16, 8 a. m., and despatch 327 of September 20.9a Both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister remain abroad. An example of the failure to assure public safety is the throwing of a rock yesterday into the state hospital here. Our expectations as to action regarding the murder of the Americans have not been fulfilled. I do not believe that it will serve American interests to take up formal relations at present with the Nationalist regime, in view of all the facts and considering that Greece is the only nation represented here which is not reserving recognition for a more favorable time. KODDING 875.00/163 The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State No. 355 TIRANA, November 20, 1924. SIR: I have the honor to report that after protracted negotiations between the various political groups M. Peci, acting as the "High Council of Regency" signed on the 13th instant a decree calling for elections for a legislative body to be held from December 20th to Jan 'Not printed. Оз Despatch not printed. uary 20th next. Notwithstanding the fact that the Constituent Assembly which adjourned in May last had constituted itself into a "regular" Parliament [which] has never been dissolved, nor [and] that none of the acts of the present régime nor [or] of the sole Regent remaining since the last revolution have been legal according to the terms of the Provisional Constitution of Lushnia, they go merrily along choosing such phrases from the Constitution as suits their purposes for the moment and ignoring the rest. It is a provisional government sitting at a provisional capital acting illegally under a provisional constitution. The anomaly will be further accentuated after [apparent omission] through the expiration on that date of the term of office of H. E. M. Sotir Peci, sole remaining Regent acting as the High Council of Regency, whereupon all the honors and powers pertaining thereto will devolve, according to the Constitution, of course, upon the Prime Minister, Mgr. Fan Noli who will bear and discharge them until such time as others are duly elected. This will doubtless be the first act of the new "Parliament"; the second to overthrow Mgr. Fan Noli who has failed, they complain, to execute the twenty points set forth in his programme announced in June last. I have [etc.] 875.00/164: Telegram U. GRANT-SMITH The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] TIRANA, December 12, 1924-2 p. m. [Received 7:55 p. m.] 91. Threats of incursion by refugees from Yugoslav territory increase as the date for the election approaches. Reports in the foreign press that a revolution has started in Albania are premature. GRANT-SMITH 875.00/165: Telegram The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State TIRANA, December 16, 1924-5 p. m. [Received December 17-12:28 a. m.] 93. My telegram number 91, December 12, 2 p. m. Incursions of armed bands announced in the south from Greece and near Ochrida and Prizren, the latter bands reported well armed; also number Wrangel's Russian and Stambouliski Bulgarian refugees participating. Strategic points to the east reported occupied by Ahmed Bey's forces. Fighting has occurred along Yugoslav border. Public demonstrations Yugoslavia held yesterday in Tirana and Durazzo and League of Nations and Great Powers appealed to by telegraph. 875.00/167: Telegram GRANT-SMITH The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State TIRANA, December 25, 1924-6 p. m. 100. Ahmed Bey Zogu entered Tirana this morning. Quiet reigns. No signs of Servians or Russian refugees among his ragged followers. Total casualties not greater than last revolution. Zogu's opponents may continue show of resistance in south for the short time. Scutari and Koushidacha [sic] reported in hands of his partisans. GRANT-SMITH POSTPONEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR A TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA 765.752/1 The Secretary of State to the Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) No. 83 WASHINGTON, March 25, 1924. SIR: Your despatch No. 208 of January 23, 1924 10 reporting that on the same date a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation was signed at Rome between Italy and Albania 11 has been received. The Department desires your opinion as to the advisability of undertaking the negotiation of a treaty in the near future to define and regularize the relations between the United States and Albania. Your views as to the points which it might eventually be desirable to cover in such a treaty would also be helpful. In this connection a copy of the Albanian Treaty with Italy, which you say you will forward to the Department as soon as it can be obtained, would be useful. I am [etc.] For the Secretary of State: 10 Not printed. "For text of treaty, which was signed Jan. 20, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. XLIV, p. 359. |