875.6363/48: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith)

[Paraphrase]

6. Referring to your telegram no. 16, the Department desires you to telegraph any details available on the proposed Anglo-Persian’s concession in regard to (1) the nature of the monopoly, (2) the extent of territory which is involved, (3) whether both the prospecting and the marketing of oil are included therein, (4) whether or not a loan is being offered the Albanian Government in return for the concession and (5) who are the representatives of American oil companies, if any, at present in Albania.

The Department understands from Maxwell Blake, former Commissioner in Albania, who is now in Washington, that the Anglo-Persian Company’s concession was approved tentatively by the Albanian Ministry in July, 1921, but that he was assured by Albanian officials that while the Government was obligated to submit the [Page 372] concession to the National Assembly it would not receive the Assembly’s approval. The Department desires to be informed if rejection is probable under present circumstances and wishes to know date of consideration of the concession by the National Assembly.

Please explain the reference in the last paragraph of your telegram no. 16 to Italian and French cooperation for maintenance of the Open Door.

Hughes