707.02/2–1650: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece 1
A–103. Reurtel 155, January 202 concur declination Rendis invitation talk regarding Albania.
You may pass following views Department regarding Albania to Foreign Office: (1) United States has no immediate “plans” for Albania beyond present policy (attitude non-recognition, condemning conduct regime, participating concerted measures against Albania such as GA arms embargo, and obtaining maximum intelligence). (2) As Greek Government previously informed, believe Albania has right [Page 366] independence, self-government. While recognizing these two rights now denied by both Soviet domination and communist leadership, United States does not contemplate active measures against present regime other than indicated (1) above. (3) Believe neighboring states (Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia) despite provocation given latter two should also refrain intervention. United States would strongly warn any of them against intervention if seemed likely. In case of Yugoslavia, present events including Yugoslav-USSR situation and Yugoslav role United Nations, seem indicate that Yugoslav Government wishes avoid trouble over Albania and does not contemplate intervention.3 (4) United States sympathetic towards efforts Albanian émigré leaders work for liberation of country but has no commitments to any leaders or groups and believes outside powers should not engage in activities these émigrés involving attempts overthrow present regime. Department observed with interest formation Free Albanian Committee by Albanian political exiles. However, Departments impression, death of leader Midhat Frasheri4 has aggravated dissension among Albanian elements concerned with Committee and has kept it from making much progress. (5) At present Albania does not add element strength to Soviet bloc. While some threat renewal guerrilla war against Greece from Albania still exists, regard it unlikely and consider more to gain at present by limited policies extant than by active intervention. (6) Recognize importance Albanian question to Greece and particular danger which unfriendly regime in Albania now represents to Greek security. United States would consult Greece and other interested states in any general reconsideration Albanian problem as international issue.
- Copies of this airgram were sent for information only to Belgrade, London, Paris, and Rome.↩
- Ante, p. 364.↩
- On January 4 the British Embassy informed the Department of State of the substance of a conversation on Albania between the British Ambassador in Yugoslavia, Sir Charles Peake, and Yugoslav Foreign Minister Edvard Kardelj. Kardelj stated that Yugoslavia had no intention to intervene in Albania. To do so would destroy Yugoslavia’s own position in defending its own independence against pressures from the Soviet Union. Kardelj stated further that he believed that the current Albanian regime should and would be changed but that such a change should be the result of Albanian enterprise (memorandum of conversation by John C. Campbell, January 4, 1950: 667.68/1–450). On January 26 Gabriel Van Laethem, the Second Secretary of the French Embassy in Washington, informed John C. Campbell, the Officer in Charge of Balkan Affairs of the Department of State, that the French Government believed that Albania should be left alone for the time being. The French felt that the consequences of intervention by Yugoslavia or Greece or the Western powers would be unpredictable and probably worse than the current state of affairs. Campbell stated that the United States had the definite impression that Yugoslavia felt it was in its own interest to avoid all appearances of intervention in Albania. Campbell added that if Yugoslav intervention appeared likely, the United States probably would wish to consult with the British and French Governments with a view to warning Yugoslavia against taking such action (memorandum of conversation by Campbell, January 26, 1950: 768.00/1–2650).↩
- Albanian exile leader and President of the Free Albania Committee who died in New York in October 1949.↩