875.6363/125: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:06 p.m.]
423. Department’s no. 266, September 27, 7 p.m., and no. 267, September 28, 7 p.m.13
[Page 396]The Embassy approached the Foreign Office in compliance with your instructions, explaining carefully the Department’s point of view. The Foreign Office in reply denied emphatically the truth of any reports which may have been circulated that either the British Government or the British Minister in Albania is using political pressure to force the Anglo-Persian Company’s oil concession upon the Albanian Government. The British Minister was supporting this concession, which was not monopolistic in character, just as any proper business proposal by an American firm interested in a foreign country would be supported by the American diplomatic representative there. The British Government was entirely in accord with the American point of view in regard to the principle of the Open Door and equality of opportunity.
The Embassy received today, unsolicited, a note from the Foreign Office the substance of which is as follows:
By the agreement which the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is at present negotiating with the Govermnent of Albania the company would be permitted upon ratification of the agreement to select 200,000 hectares for exploration, and from this area to select, within four months, 50,000 for exploitation. It is clear, therefore, that instead of seeking a monopoly the company would, should the agreement be ratified, acquire working rights over about 1 percent of Albania.
Furthermore, the Foreign Office understands that at the present time there are two American companies seeking exploitation rights in Albania, one for 150,000 hectares, the other for 35,000 hectares. The contention that the British company is endeavoring to obtain a monopoly would, therefore, appear to be unfounded.
His Majesty’s Government are confident that the Government of the United States, with the facts thus presented, will agree that there exists no question of any violation of the principles of the Open Door or of any threat to the territorial integrity of Albania.
This Embassy understands that recently the Foreign Office sent a note, somewhat similar, to the French Ambassador in reply to inquiries he had made.
Repeated to our Legation in Albania.