875.6363/49: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Albania (Grant-Smith)

[Paraphrase]

10. Your no. 17, February 21, 10 a.m. Point number 2 of your telegram. In view of the apparent monopolistic character of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s proposal as described particularly [Page 374] therein, you are authorized, in your discretion and when you may deem it most timely, to point out to the Albanian Government that the Department would regret any action tending to deny the principle of the Open Door as it applies to the development of the natural resources of Albania.

You may also point out that the Government of the United States expects that the Government of Albania will treat the granting of an oil concession on its merits, and will afford an equal opportunity to American companies with the companies of any other nationality and that there will be no concession granted of a monopolistic character or of a nature which would exclude possibility of participation by American nationals.

You may make the representations authorized either orally or in writing. If you employ written communication you should reinforce your note by vigorous oral representations setting forth this Government’s policy of the Open Door and describing the unfortunate effect upon possible commercial relations in the future with the United States of a step which would give the impression that a particularly privileged treatment was reserved for nationals of any other country in Albania.

The Italian Ambassador, acting under instructions from his Government, has suggested that the Government of the United States should cooperate with Italy and France in taking steps to block approval of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s contract by the Albanian authorities. The Department believes that you should cooperate with your Italian and French colleagues to maintain the principle of the Open Door, but it is felt that any representations which you might make would be more forceful if they were made independently.

Please advise Department of action you take.

Hughes