875.00/519: Telegram
The Minister in Albania (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 5—7:30 a.m.]
82. In confirmation and with interesting new angles of the agreement which was signed in Rome Saturday afternoon by the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, and the Albanian Foreign Minister, Dino, whereby the Italian Foreign Office assumes the responsibility for Albanian interests abroad as indicated in my telegram No. 79, June 3, 6 p.m. I quote below, in translation from the French, a note which I have received tonight from the Minister for Foreign Affairs D. Dino. The fourth paragraph appears to be particularly significant and is the subject of conferences tonight among several Chiefs of Mission.
The Albanian delegation to Rome headed by Prime Minister Verlaci returned to Tirana late Sunday afternoon, speeches were made including one by the Italian Lieutenant General Jacomoni and Italian fireworks were displayed. This spectacle was followed today by the announcement that Verlaci and three other Albanians had been appointed Senators in Rome; that Foreign Minister Dino had been decorated and made an Ambassador; that Father Fishta, former head of the Franciscan Order and poet laureate in Albania, had been made a member of the Italian Academy; the Albanian Minister of Education, Koliqi, a professor of the University of Rome; and General Zef Sereggi, former personal adjutant to King Zog, a division general. That the capitulation of the handful of Albanian puppets who were selected by the Italian authorities to head the new government following the Italian military occupation appears to have been complete in the august presence of King Victor Emmanuel. Viceroy Jacomoni’s cup of joy is full to overflowing in striking contrast to the expressions of disgust among the majority of diplomatic officers over the success of the totalitarian technique. Foreign Minister Dino’s note follows. (Enclosed with the note was a copy of the text of the Rome agreement which was incorporated in my telegram No. 80, June 5, 5 p.m.56)
“Mr. Minister: I have the honor to bring to the knowledge of Your Excellency that between the Albanian and Italian Governments an agreement concerning the unification of diplomatic and consular services of the two Kingdoms was concluded in Rome on June 3, 1939.
In virtue of this agreement the international relations of the two countries shall be taken care of by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Rome.
[Page 419]Begging Your Excellency to have the kindness to find herewith a copy of the aforesaid agreement in the Italian language, I hasten to inform you that the Albanian Royal Government has decided to abolish its own Foreign Office as a result of the application of the stipulations of the agreement.
I am happy to be entirely at the disposal of Your Excellency for all you may judge useful in relation with the new situation from which results the incompetence of the Albanian Royal Government to accord henceforth to the representations and the diplomatic representatives accredited up to now to Tirana the usual privileges and immunities.
Please accept, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my high consideration. The Minister for Foreign Affairs D. Dino.”
- Not printed.↩