Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

875.01/11–1745

The Department of State to the Greek Embassy

Memorandum

Reference is made to the Embassy’s Memoranda no. 4082 of November 1 and no. 4418 of November 17, 1945,^5a communicating the views of the Greek Government regarding the proposal of the United States Government to recognize the existing Albanian regime as the provisional Government of Albania and requesting assurance that the contemplated recognition of the present Albanian administration by this Government does not in any way prejudice consideration of Greek claims to Southern Albania (Northern Epirus).

In connection with the statement by the Greek Government that it had “learned with astonishment of the impending recognition of the regime of Enver Hoxha, contrary to previous assurances”, the United States Government has at no time given the Greek Government assurances in the sense implied above with regard to recognition of the existing Albanian authorities. The United States Government has never considered Albania an enemy state. As evidenced in the statements of the Secretary of State on December 10, 1942, and subsequent occasions,⁶ this Government recognized and supported the struggle of the Albanian people against the Axis forces of occupation and for the establishment of their independence. The decision of this Government with respect to recognition of the present Albanian regime was made after extensive and careful study of the question and after consultation with the other Governments signatory to the Crimea Declaration on Liberated Europe⁷ in a manner consistent with obligations assumed under that Declaration.

In response to the inquiry of the Greek Government regarding territorial issues, the United States Government assures the Greek Government that the United States proposal looking to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Albania in no way prejudices consideration of Greek claims in Southern Albania (Northern Epirus), claims which are considered as included among the “questions of an international character” referred to in the penultimate paragraph of the United States note to General Hoxha published on November 10, 1945. The United States Government also considers that the elections which were held in Albania on December 2, 1945, do not in any way prejudice consideration of Greek claims to this territory.

Washington , December 12, 1945.

[In its memorandum of December 15, 1945, the Greek Embassy carried out the instructions of the Greek Government by stating the desire of the Greek Government that neither the United States nor the United Kingdom would reach any decision regarding Greek questions at the coming meeting in Moscow⁸ without a prior understanding with the Greek Government. This would be in accord with the assurances often given during the war. The Greek Government hoped to have the complete support of the United States and the United Kingdom for the rightful national claims of Greece; but it was now compelled to state that it could not feel itself bound by any decisions taken at Moscow which might not conform to the vital interests of Greece, nor would it be able to sign peace treaties which did not give full satisfaction of its just national claims.]

1. Neither printed; but see bracketed notes, pp. 351 and 352, respectively.
6. Statements regarding Albania were made by the Secretary of State or the Department of State, as follows: December 10, 1942, Department of State Bulletin, December 12, 1942, p. 998; April 6, 1944, ibid., April 8, 1944, p. 315; June 2, 1944, ibid., June 3, 1944, p. 510; November 15, 1944, ibid., November 19, 1944, p. 591; November 28, 1944, ibid., December 3, 1944, p. 676. For documentation regarding the interest of the United States in Albania, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iii, pp. 271 ff.
7. This refers to Section II of the “Protocol of the Proceedings of the Crimea Conference”; for text of the Yalta Protocol, February 11, 1945, see Conferences at Malta and Yalta, p. 975.
8. For documentation regarding the Conference at Moscow of the Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, December 16–Deeember 26, 1945, see vol. ii, pp. 560 ff.