765.75/469: Telegram
The Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6 p.m.]
75. With reference to telegram No. 119, April 7, 3 p.m. from Rome, I inquired at the Foreign Office this morning whether the Yugoslav Government had had any apprehension of attack by Albania and on what date the Italian Government had communicated to the Yugoslav Government information regarding alleged desire of King Zog to secure by force slice of Yugoslav territory.
Smiljanic appeared ill at ease and at first evaded comment but on my pressing him said that although Italians had been talking for some time past of Zog’s intrigues to Italian-Yugoslav relations, no mention was made of Zog’s alleged intention to invade Yugoslavia until moment when Ciano advised Yugoslav Minister of Italy’s planes occupying Albania. As reported in my telegram No. 69,39a this was presumably on evening April 6.
I inquired of Smiljanic whether Yugoslav Government had any information independent of Italian sources indicating that Zog was planning attack on Yugoslavia. Again he evaded question by referring to trouble which Zog had made for both Italy and Yugoslavia and to his having published maps showing that greater Albania extended as far as Nish. He finally admitted that they had received no information regarding proposed military attack except from Italian sources.
As to Yugoslavia’s present policy, he said that military measures against Italy would be of no avail and that Yugoslavia must find arrangement to live on friendly relations with its greater neighbor. When I inquired as to possible military and economic danger to Yugoslavia [Page 397] as a result of occupation of Albania be said that Italian fortification of Saseno had been proceeding for the last 20 years. He seemed to be endeavoring to condone Italian occupation of Albania although admitting that there is general alarm regarding seriousness of the situation.
Repeated to Rome.