Office of the Historian

875.00/518: Telegram

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

Tirana, June 3, 1939—6 p.m.
[Received June 3—5:35 p.m.]

79. The Albanian Prime Minister Verlaci who headed the Albanian delegation went to Rome Thursday54 to see King Victor Emmanuel (as reported in my telegram No. 78, June 1, 11 p.m.55) today broadcast a speech from Rome to the Albanians which as heard in Tirana in substance was as follows:

The King of Italy (1) accepted the proposal of the Albanian delegation that the Albanian Army be incorporated in the Italian Army, and (2) that Albanian interests abroad shall be protected by the Italian representatives.

The new constitution of Albania as outlined by the Prime Minister and confirmed late this afternoon in a special edition of the Fashizmi provides that:

(1)
The Albanian state is a constitutional monarchy and the crown shall belong to the King Emperor and his heirs according to the Salic law.
(2)
The flag is red with the two-headed eagle in the middle and the lictor emblem.
(3)
The official language shall be Albanian.
(4)
There is freedom of worship. The exercise of all cults is legal.
(5)
The legislative power shall be exercised by the King Emperor in collaboration with the Fascist Corporative Council.
(6)
The executive power shall be exercised by the government appointed by the King Emperor.
(7)
The judicial power shall be exercised in the name of the King by judges appointed by him.

The Italian Lieutenant General Jacomoni who explained the principal features of the new constitution to the Albanian Cabinet 1 week ago was in concert with the Albanian delegation. It would appear that the Albanian authorities “signed on the dotted line” as indicated by Jacomoni and further that they agreed to make certain proposals to the King of Italy in regard to the Army and the administration of foreign affairs as outlined above as though these proposals were their own. Jacomoni therefore having failed to bring King Zog to terms has now scored 100% in carrying out the totalitarian technique through the aid of the Italian army of occupation and a group of Albanian puppets.

A holiday was proclaimed in Albania and Italian and Albanian flags were displayed following Prime Minister Verlaci’s speech from Rome.

Grant
  1. June 1.↩
  2. Not printed.↩