875.01/11–644: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Mr. Alexander C. Kirk, Political Adviser, Allied Force Headquarters at Caserta
365. The Department would be interested in receiving any information that you or members of your staff in Bari may have or be able to obtain regarding the prospects for the maintenance of stability on the Greek-Albanian frontier as the Germans leave and full control passes into the hands of the native authorities. As you may be aware, the Greek Government not only has brought forward claims to extensive territories in Southern Albania (Northern Epirus), but has sought to have Albania declared an “enemy state” and indicated its desire to send Greek troops of occupation into the disputed area.
The United States Government has on several occasions made public in clear terms its view that boundary disputes should not be decided until the general settlement. The British Government has stated that it regards Albania’s boundaries as a matter that should be left for settlement by the peace conference. While we believe that the Greek claim to Southern Albania should be given a hearing at that time, it is our view that the pre-war frontier must be considered as being the legal boundary in the meantime. Meanwhile, the disputant states and their nationals should be restrained from taking measures which violate that boundary or which would tend to prejudice a settlement of the frontier dispute on its merits at a later date. For these reasons, we feel it important that both the Greek and Albanian armed forces should be prevented from crossing the frontier and that attempts on either side to drive out or to exterminate the minority belonging to the other language or nationality group should not be permitted. We are sure that the military authorities have this problem very much in mind, but would be grateful for any information which you may be able to provide on this subject. Your recent telegrams on Albania, such as your 1175 November 6, have been very helpful.