875.6363/100
The Minister in Albania ( Grant-Smith ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that since signing my despatch No. 110 of even date I have had a conversation with Djafer Villa, the [Page 389] Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which I said that in view of the clear evidence, which I recapitulated, I was at a loss to understand why the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and also the Financial Adviser, should persist in maintaining that the Anglo-Persian Company still enjoyed preferential rights; I could attribute such an attitude only to the existence of some understanding or agreement between the two Governments of which we had no knowledge. Djafer Bey, whose confidence I have been fortunate enough to gain, made reply by fixing his eyes on the floor. After a few moments silence I remarked that any agreement which might exist was no concern of ours so long as it observed the principle of the “open door.” He replied that time would work in favor of the Albanian Government and that he had every reason to anticipate that the question of the oil concessions would eventually be settled in accordance with that principle, and indicated that postponement beyond September was probable.
I have [etc.]