Office of the Historian

875.00/508: Telegram

The Minister in Albania (Grant) to the Secretary of State

Tirana, May 9, 1939—6 p.m.
[Received May 9—10:38 a.m.]

67. From another informal conversation with Foreign Minister Dino and through consultations with several of my colleagues within the last 24 hours, it appears that the latest developments in the Albanian political situation are as follows:

(1)
A complete reorganization of the Albanian Ministries is being perfected with Italian organizers in each Ministry. It is believed a purge of Albanian government officers was pursued.
(2)
Agreement has been reached between Lieutenant General Jacomoni and the Albanian government to provide for a new gendarmerie for the policing of the country with an Italian General Agostinucci who was associated with General Pariani several years ago in Albania in command. The gendarmerie will comprise Italian carabiniere and former members of the Albanian gendarmerie.
(3)
The Albanian Foreign Minister acting, it is believed, upon the suggestion of Jacomoni has proposed that Albanians be sent as members of the Italian Senate. The matter under consideration.
(4)
A number of political refugees who were exiled by King Zog have returned to Albania with the permission of the Italian authorities.
(5)
All Albanian schools have been ordered closed on May 31, more than one half month earlier than is customary. It is reported unofficially that the school buildings will be utilized by Italian troops.
(6)
A Fascist militia consisting of Italians residing in Albania and Albanians who are registered in the Fascist Party has been created.
(7)
The Albanian Foreign Office is planning to send a new Minister to Berlin, Ekrem Vlora, member of the defunct Republican Parliament succeeding Rauf Fitso who is not sympathetic with the present regime, and a new Minister to Sofia, Maliq Libohova, nephew of King Zog’s former Foreign Minister Ekrem Vlora. Other vacancies are London, Paris and Cairo. Dino confided to me that he is having much difficulty with the incumbent at Cairo, Abdyl Sula, who refuses to retire. He said that he did not want to be forced to request the Italian Minister in Cairo to take over the Albanian Legation, indicating in my judgment that this procedure has been suggested by the Italians. I questioned Dino in regard to the matter of credentials which might be required of Ministers to Albania. His reply gave evidence of considerable mental confusion. He indicated that while this matter had not been decided it appeared that it would be necessary to present letters to the Italian Lieutenant General. I thereupon intimated that this would create an unusual situation inasmuch as the present Lieutenant General Jacomoni is the former colleague of all of the Ministers now here. Dino then said he had thought of this and that he hoped a formula could be found to avoid this situation. He suggested that present foreign Ministers who remain here might not be required to present new letters. In this connection it is the consensus of opinion among my diplomatic colleagues with whom I have closely collaborated during the crisis that the Albanian government officials are keenly anxious to keep all the Legations here on the theory that this will help Albania salvage some of its independence, whereas the Italians would much prefer to see them go but are going along in order to please the Albanians and present a facade of national sovereignty for outside consumption for the moment. Dino was much disturbed when I informed him of the picketing of certain Legations by plainclothes spies as reported in telegram No. 64, May 6, 11 p.m. He denied that the Albanians were responsible for this and I assured him that I was confident of this also. He volunteered to investigate the matter but indicated that if it should be proved that the Italians were responsible for the practice he would be helpless in correcting it. This incident is indicative of the rigid control the Italian Lieutenant General Jacomoni exercises over all affairs. The Albanian members are mere puppets some of whom, however, are holding on hoping that a world war may change the situation. It appears that under Italian coercion Albanian officials, civil, military and religious, are boycotting the Legations. I find that even close friends among the Albanians do not visit the Legation. My colleagues report similar experiences. The plan of the Albanian government leaders to have a [Page 415] new constitution adopted at an early date appears to have been sidetracked by the Italians. Dino indicated that he still has hopes of having a constitution adopted soon by a new assembly and not by the Constituent Assembly which established the present government as desired by the Italians. He said that the new Assembly could act on the proposal of an Albanian chamber of Fascios which has been suggested by the Italian leaders.
9. [8?]
The new Bureau of Press, Propaganda and Tourism is headed by an Italian journalist who has been the United Press correspondent in Albania.

Celebration of the Italian Empire day was featured in Tirana today by a luncheon for high Italian dignitaries with the Albanian Prime Minister as host.

Unconfirmed report today from an Albanian army officer who is connected with the Italian Army is to the effect that there is continued concentration of troops in the south and southeast and that Albanian residents near portions of the Greek frontier have been directed to withdraw 6 kilometers from the frontier.

Grant