875.01/260: Telegram
The Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 15—2:32 a.m.]
4. Department’s 2, January 10, 2 p.m. Chiefly because of fear inspired by Zogu the regime appears to be relatively stable. Portions of Northern Albania are as yet not entirely pacified.
In spite of the nature of the evidence brought against Zogu at the murder trial it seems that the fact that he was convicted is almost the only hope left of eventually securing the arrest and punishment of the murderers and their accomplices who without doubt have received protection from high authority. In order to clear Zogu officially the case is to be reopened.
[Page 491]I am trying to convince Zogu that the only way to clear his name is by swift and searching justice since he has been branded as a criminal before the world. Probably the whole matter will be dropped as soon as the records of the court have been changed to Zogu’s satisfaction, if we disregard the verdict from the outset.