875.6363/167: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Albania (Kodding)
9. Department informed by Standard Oil Company of New York that they are cabling the following message directly to Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs:
“We are advised that you have been erroneously informed our company is no longer interested in obtaining an oil concession in Albania. We hasten to correct any such impression as you may have and to state unqualifiedly that we are very much interested in obtaining a concession. May we express the hope it will be consistent for Your Excellency to postpone action in respect to the granting of the concession to others pending the arrival in Tirana of our representative, Mr. E. S. Sheffield, who sailed from New York February 11th and should be with you at the end of February. Accept please our assurances of highest esteem.”
This message is repeated for your information but there would be no objection to your indicating to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that you have been informed that message has been sent. In the event that you have reason to believe that due to telegraphic or other interference it has not been received by Albanian Government, you may hand Minister of Foreign Affairs a copy but without covering communication from the Legation.
Keep Department fully advised of developments.