Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

711.75/1–2946: Telegram

The Representative in Albania ( Jacobs ) to the Secretary of State

top secret
priority

Tirana , January 29, 1946—5 p.m.
[Received 9:16 p.m.]

68. Various messages beginning my telegram 263, Dec 28² have indicated growing unfriendliness of regime here toward US and possible fundamental changes going on in Govt itself. After careful sifting all available information following summarizes situation as of this date:

1. There has been and continues to be marked increase in Soviet prestige and activity in Albania. Soviet Legation has been established headed by [Minister] Chuvakhin and staffed by First Secretary Pavlov-Razigraev, Second Secretary Ivan-Ivanov and Attaché Nicolai-Grishin. Minister and two Secretaries speak English and all have wives with them. Soviet Military Mission still remains staffed by three officers, colonel, major, captain, two of which have wives. In addition there are various clerks and custodial employees of Soviet nationality. That Legation and Mission now occupy five houses and one fairly large semi-apartment house where offices and some residence quarters are situated. These officers, especially military, are frequently seen in public places with Albanian officials and military officers and during recess at Assembly meetings there was cordial hobnobbing between them. In addition there are number Russians in city supposed to be technicians but with no known jobs that can be discovered. Rumour has it that there are now several hundred such people with several thousand more to come to replace Italian technicians who will be expelled from the country. While I discount these rumours as regards numbers, the Russians definitely increasing.

2. Next most noticeable development has been expulsion of Italian Mission under Turcato and during past few days the complete taking over of businesses and assets of all Italian firms while Italians are being told to leave their homes and be ready for expulsion. This development fits in with a directive which, as reported in my 252, December 21,³ General Shehu⁴ brought back from Moscow. General Shehu has since returned to Moscow reportedly to take care various Albanian officers and students proceeding there for indoctrination.

3. Definite movement under way not only to eliminate Catholic clergy Italian nationality but also to circumscribe all religious activities of Catholics such as schools and orphanage which have been closed. Also evidence steps taken to restrict all secular activities Orthodox Church and Bektashi and other Moslem sects.

4. Pending Soviet Legation seems to have reduced prestige of Yugoslav Legation and Military Mission which are no longer in limelight although they are probably collaborating behind the scenes.

5. Within the Govt itself extreme radical pro-Yugoslav-Soviet group is taking most active part in Assembly to mold new Constitution along Soviet line. This has provoked certain opposition among Moderate Radicals who are resisting but as they seem to be in minority they are likely to lose. This rift has brought about arrests members so-called opposition such as Kokoshi, Aslani, and Larry Post mentioned mytel 59, Jan 25.⁵ There are rumours also of fighting in north between Partisan troops and bands oppositionists.

6. In contrast with foregoing our own position has deteriorated with marked cooling off of cordiality which hitherto existed, ignoring of requests for entry permit for Offie of PolAd ⁶ and wife of caretaker Marinschak and for passes for short trips out of Tirana, failure to reply to note regarding Albanian interest in Germany war plans for which Jan 22 was deadline, ignoring inquiries concerning whereabouts and welfare American citizens and complete silence on treaty question although copies of all treaties were finally handed Hoxha Jan 16.⁷

Foregoing climaxed afternoon Jan 28 when all alien employees on Govt payroll at Mission and servants employed by staff including Meno were told they had to leave Albania by Feb 15. This includes Rudolph Marinschak who has been employed by our Govt for many years and who rendered yeoman service in protecting our property during occupation years. This culminating incident is being made subject of separate telegram for which this telegram should be read as background.⁸

Repeated Caserta 32. Moscow 7.

Jacobs

2. Not printed.
3. Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. iv, p. 79.
4. Maj. Gen. Mehmet Shehu, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Albanian Army.
5. Not printed; it reported that Larry Post, alias Llazi-Papapostoli, an Albanian citizen who had been in the United States between 1936 and 1943 and subsequently returned to Albania, had been arrested by Albanian security police for alleged oppositionist plotting against the Albanian Government (765.75/1–2546).
6. Carmel Offie, United States Deputy Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.
7. Telegram 42, January 17, 1946, from Tirana, reported that Jacobs had handed to Prime Minister Enver Hoxha on January 16 a set of bilateral treaties and agreements between the United States and Albania together with a list of international agreements to which Albania had been a signatory (711.75/1–1746). For a list of the bilateral treaties and agreements between the United States and Albania, see Department of State Bulletin, November 17, 1946, p. 914.
8. In telegram 69, January 29, 1946, from Tirana, Jacobs expressed the view that the action taken against his staff by the Albanian authorities was in contravention of the agreement contained in the exchange of notes of March 1945 for the establishment of the United States Mission in Albania. Jacobs proposed to take up the matter with Hoxha (124.75/1–2946). In telegram 16, January 31, to Tirana, the Department approved Jacobs’ proposal to take up the matter with Hoxha but reminded Jacobs of the established principle that foreign government officials and their staffs must be acceptable to the authorities of the country wherein they are stationed (124.75/1–2946). On the exchange of notes in March 1945 regarding the sending of the United States Mission to Albania, see telegrams 229, March 19, 1945, to Caserta; 1136, March 24, 1945, from Caserta: and 1161. March 25, 1945, from Caserta, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. iv, pp. 15–18.