701.7511/44
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Minister of Albania called at my request. I said that it was awful to contemplate the strange courses being pursued in many parts [Page 420] of the world these days, but that it was not a question, however, of how much one may deplore the events that are taking place or how much some of us may sympathize with those who experience such developments.
I went on to say that on June fifth the Foreign Minister of Albania officially notified this Government through our Legation in Tirana that the Albanian and Italian Governments had signed an agreement on June third, whereby the diplomatic and consular services of the two countries were unified and the Albanian Foreign Office abolished. At the same time our Legation was notified by the Albanian Minister that as a result, the Albanian Government was incompetent to accord in the future the usual privileges and immunities to foreign representatives in Albania. I added that these developments were different from those in Czechoslovakia some months ago which I need not elaborate upon, since it was a question of forceful taking by German authorities.
I then said that much as I regretted to have to inform the Minister, this Government, having felt obliged to order its Minister back home, was no longer in a position to extend privileges and immunities to the Minister of Albania. He seemed not to be surprised, in making reply to what I had said, but remarked that Albanians in this country desired any kind of showing possible in the way of continuing the Legation that would have a moral influence; that the Minister himself would find that anything he might do in this direction by holding on, would be an impediment to him personally.