875.00/6–2145
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
Reference is made to the British Embassy’s Aide-Mémoire of June 21, 1945, stating the views of the Foreign Office on the subject of recognition of the Hoxha regime in Albania.
The United States Government shares the desire of the British Government that their respective policies on the question of Albanian recognition should be concerted. As yet the Department of State has not received the final report of the head of the American Mission in Albania, Mr. Joseph E. Jacobs, or consulted with him as planned upon his return here for that purpose. In these circumstances, the Department is not now in a position to offer any definite statement of views concerning recognition of an Albanian government. However, Mr. Jacobs has submitted to the Department a preliminary summary of the findings of his Mission. His conclusion is that the FNC enjoys greater popular support than any opposition group and that it is more concerned with the welfare of the Albanian people than any previous regime. His principal recommendation is to the effect that recognition should be accorded the present authorities on condition that they undertake to hold elections in accordance with a formula to be agreed upon and prescribed jointly by the British, Soviet and United States Governments.
Meanwhile, in connection with possible discussion of this subject at the Potsdam Conference,12 the Department has made available to [Page 45] the American delegation an outline of the conclusions and recommendations reported by Mr. Jacobs in his preliminary summary.
- There is no indication that the question of the recognition of Albania was discussed at the Conference of Berlin.↩