875.6363/222
The Chargé in Albania (Kodding) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5.]
Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 45 of July 8th, 10 p.m., reporting that the Albanian Government had approved the petroleum concession proposed by the Standard Oil Company of New York and referred it to parliament on the 7th instant, I have the honor to confirm the information contained therein and to add that the legislature reached this item on its schedule today. The concession was referred to the committee on National Economy without discussion. The Minister of Public Works, M. Kocha Kotta, asked that this contract be given early consideration as an urgent measure, to which request the parliament agreed.
In my despatch No. 453 of June 1, 1925, the statements of M. Guys, Secretary of the French Legation, and Mr. Sheffield of the Standard Oil Company were reported as tending to show that an agreement existed between the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and the Italian Railway Administration for the selection by the former of the oil lands granted to Italian interests by the Albanian Government. M. Branko Lazarevitch, the Yugoslav Minister, informs me that he obtained an admission to this effect several days ago from Ahmet Bey Zogu, who was informed of the arrangement from the beginning. The latter added that the agreement was much broader than one for aid in selection of territories and provided for the complete exploitation of the Italian areas by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for which the Italian interests were to be recompensed by financial payments.
I have [etc.]
July 15, 1925.
I reopen my despatch to state that the Albanian Chamber of Deputies ratified the Standard Oil Company’s proposals for a concession [Page 510] yesterday afternoon by a unanimous vote. A favorable vote in the Senate is expected within the next few days.