875.6363/205: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Fletcher ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 27—12:29 a.m.]
54. It is indicated from informal conversations at the Foreign Office that, however glad Italy was to secure American cooperation at Tirana for support of the open door so long as the door actually was open, Italy realized after the grant of the Anglo-Persian concession that it was then each one for himself for the remainder. The intimation was that after the Anglo-Persian concession had been granted, it had become necessary that Italy, in view of both the foreign and domestic political situations, not give the appearance of having suffered a setback in Albania, thus explaining the Italian efforts both in London and at Tirana to secure the concession and thus to have something to show. The British appear to have acted in a conciliatory spirit.
[Page 504]I gathered from conversation with Sheffield that, if properly selected, 50,000 hectares could include all the oil-bearing areas in Albania, and that the Italians did not know where the oil-bearing territories were. Inasmuch as the Italian Government have more interest in the political and strategic situation than in petroleum, it would appear that American interests could well go ahead and take their chances with third choice; for if the British do not pick the right areas, it is practically sure the Italians will not, as the districts to be assigned to them seem almost to have been decided upon.
After considering the matter further, I withdraw the suggestion I made yesterday24a about representations to the Italian Ambassador in Washington.
Repeated to Tirana and London.
- Telegram not printed.↩