740.00119 Council/10–1645
King Zog I of Albania28 to the Secretary of State 29
Your Excellency: On the occasion of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London I have the honour to approach you with regard to the question of Albania, as it is to be supposed that the future of my country will be one of the subjects which will come up for discussion.
[Page 54]The circumstances under which Albania was invaded without provocation, and the continued resistance of the Albanian people to Fascist Italy are generally known and appreciated. The occupation of Albania first by Italy, later by Germany, never deprived Albania her independence de jure and only momentarily de facto. Moreover, in December 1942, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union officially recognised the principle of Albania’s independence after the war.30 All that remains for discussion, therefore, is the question of her frontiers, particularly since Greece lays claim to integral parts of her territory—claims which are both unjust in themselves and incompatible with the proclaimed policy of your Government and with the aims of the United Nations. Albania’s frontiers after the Balkan Wars were demarkated to her disadvantage, and Your Excellency no doubt will be aware that on three occasions—in 1913, 1921 and 1925—the Greek claims were submitted to International Commissions and rejected as unjust.
It is to be presumed that the Council of Foreign Ministers will wish to hear the views of interested parties to subjects under discussion. Therefore, Albanians everywhere are asking to be represented in regard to matters having vital importance for the future of their country. So far their request has been disregarded on the ground of non-recognition of an Albanian Government. This is a consequence of the inexplicable and grave injustice done by the Allies during the war to Albania, a country which, despite her great sacrifices, has not had the satisfaction of being included among the United Nations. The Albania Resistance Movement never ceased to protest at this injustice, and I, too, as head of the State and in the name of my people, have on many occasions done likewise. No justification has ever been given for this unfortunate discrimination to Albania’s prejudice. So far war conditions might be advanced as responsible for it, but today it represents a grave and growing danger to our country, which it leaves without a voice at a time when her whole future is being decided. To us, therefore, it seems a vital necessity that we should find a means of enabling Albania to present her own point of view and to champion her own cause. All Albanians are of the same opinion, and they are far more concerned that their country should be represented as one of the United Nations than as to who should represent it. If Albania were invited to send representatives I feel certain they would reach agreement as to who should represent them. The argument that Albania cannot be represented because it does not possess a Government recognised by the Allies, or because the possible representatives are unknown, means that her future is being decided without her being given any voice in the decision. Neighbouring countries whose position [Page 55] from a legal point of view, and from the point of view of internal political instability is similar to that of Albania, have been accorded very different treatment.
Surely the methods employed in relation to Italy, Greece and Jugoslavia who are represented internationally although their internal problems remain unsolved, could properly be applied also to Albania; and I am convinced that her people, if given similar facilities, would also be able to form a Government of National Unity. Such a Government would be able to take over the charge of defending the national interests and restoring the internal situation peacefully and in freedom, and in accordance with democratic principles.
In the name of justice and peace, therefore, I beg Your Excellency to uphold in regard to Albania the principles governing the policy of the United Nations towards her neighbours; that decisions shall not be taken on Albanian questions without Albania herself being adequately represented; and that the representation of Albanian State be given on the lawful basis of national unity. I am convinced that, given adequate facilities, such unity can be achieved.
Allow me to express to Your Excellency in advance my warm appreciation of such action as you may feel justified in taking in the interest of my country, and I beg you to accept the assurance of my highest consideration.
- King of Albania from September 1928 until he went into exile on April 6, 1939 on the eve of the Italian invasion of Albania; in exile in England during World War II. The Albanian Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy on January 11, 1946.↩
- Transmitted to the Department in despatch 1, October 16, 1945 by the delegation of the United States to the Council of Foreign Ministers in London. The Secretary of State headed the American delegation to the first session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in London, September 11–October 2, 1945.↩
- See footnote 12, p. 3.↩