Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development “Alexander Moisiu“ University, Durrës, Vol (II), No.2, 2015 ______

RESEARCH ARTICLE

THE ATTITUDE OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE 1919-1920

LAVDOSH AHMETAJ Faculty of Political and Juridical Science , ‘Aleksandër Moisiu” University, Durrës, Albania Contact: [email protected]

Abstract The attitude of Albanian official delegation in Paris, was one of the most important moment of the . It expressed the fact that the Albanian political class understood the interests of the European Great Powers emerged from The First World War as winners and so they had to follow a new policy. In Albania there were two political groups who had different attitudes towards the policy Albania had to follow with the European countries. The aim of this article is to present these trends. Keywords: diplomacy, crisis, state, contradictions, standpoint.

European politics had formed the view that the statements of the allied and associated powers.”1. were unable to govern itself, which Politically Great Powers had to make one more seemed more as a result of its various interests. In qualitative step through “clauses cancellation of the these conditions, the status of Albania was a Treaty of London in 1915, relating to Albania.”2. difficult problem to solve. Sharp issue rulings can They demanded by European politics to be ratified not be avoided nor by the delegation of the borders between Albania and the Balkan countries Government of Durres. It called a care setting of a in accordance with ethnic principles. It expressed power as an opportunity to make possible the the national aspiration of the Albanians. But in salvation of Albania by a curtailing of lands for the concrete terms in which Albania was, it seemed to benefit of neighboring states. This constituted the be rather a simple political idea, and it should be note meaning that delegation addressed to the considered more as a tactical requirement than a chairman of the Peace Conference, Klemanso on real and solvable idea. But what better express their April 14, 1919. idea as a political grouping, on the status of Mehmet Konica, Mihal Turtulli and Midhat Albania, was the fifth item. They felt that the Frashëri, in this memorandum said that , leadership of Albania in the first steps of the seeking its installation in Albania, will turn against formation of the state to be entrusted to a power, it the desire to cause hatred of races that will which would be able to surround with an aura of emerge threatened by its ambition". It, according to kindness and sympathy and could not “cause them, politically, would be foreign and Balkan distrust of the Balkan peoples.”3. peoples would remove it through violence from In the note requirements of the Albanian people their lands. They anticipated the possibility of a were reaffirmed for a free and independent of all potential risk, given the Balkan nationality, and in possible prerogatives of a sovereign state and lord these conditions they recommended possibilities to of their own political fortunes. Therein is clearly eliminate possible risks. admitted concern about a new curtailing threatened On the first point they recommended that the Great to Albania by those who consider Albania as a Powers should confirm the independence of "small new Turkey in Europe". This was not Albania, which will enable the Albanians to change the opinion regarding the old European politics. 1 - AMPJ. Letter of M. Konica, M. Turtulli, M. Frashëri, sent For this reason, against Albania the holy principle to the President of the Paris Peace Conference. File no. 10, of nationality should be applied, "as to Poland, April 14, 1919, p. 150, Doc. 739 copy (French). Alsace and Lorraine, as results from the official 2 - Ibid. 3 - AMPJ. Letter of M. Konica, M. Turtulli, M. Frashëri, sent to the President of the Paris Peace Conference. File no. 10, April 14, 1919, p. 150, Doc. 739 copy (French).

61 The attitude of the albanian delegation … L.Ahmetaj ______simply for propaganda effect, but basically this and the port, "so - Giolotti stated in Parliament - we formula was used to mask the lusts of interested can not leave Vlora without the certainty that it is countries at the expense of the integrity of Albania. not invaded by any other power, which would use Status of Albania will be safer in terms stewardship in our damage. By occupying Vlora, we guarantee of a benevolent power would not induce Balkan Albania from any permanent occupation by any jealousy. other power Vlora”6. This document, to which we referred to, constitutes Konica thought that the situation in Albania was a material which pushes us even more to justify not just as they had presented Giolotti: "If a few that this trend was of the opinion that the future of weeks ago some foreign agents were trying to Albania would be safer with mandatory of a great cause upheaval, the Albanian government had power, which could be USA. Also, guarantees were announced to extinguish these situations created, in given that the Albanian restored state would be a the cradle". And further he explained that there was progressive state based on the principles of no war of provinces in Albania "and new royal freedom and equality for all regardless of region government politics that your Excellency lead out, and religion. This would also be a guarantee for makes us hope that finally the full independence minorities, which will therefore remain within the and territorial integrity of Albania will be borders of this country, however "in front of respected". These were some arguments from accusations and insinuations of opponents”4, Konica’s political grouping to explain the Albanians were ready to make a tolerance, by establishing custody of a great and benevolent expressing the willingness - said in a note of the power, so that the existence of this power in Albanian delegation - to accept in a certain time the Albania to not encourage ambition among various benevolent assistance of one of the allied Great political forces in Albania, but also in terms of Powers, which will help Albania in its infancy in international relations of the Albanian state. the path of progress. It remained to be determined which would be the This tolerance had its reasons. Firstly, Albanians to power that would take custody of Albania. It was express their desire for choosing the custodian officially introduced by the Treaty of London of Power. Secondly, to be respected sovereignty of the 1915, as the sole candidacy of Italy. This was the independent Albanian state and this is expressed by idea that prevailed during the debate in committee. internal autonomy, not excluded from For choosing the custodian Power, the representation abroad. But it would be nonsense, memorandum of 14 April 1919 seeks also the because the mandate was a limitation of opinion of Albania. But it does not turn out to be sovereignty, both within the country and outside ever considered in the districts of the Paris Peace political borders. As the third condition, it was put Conference. Furthermore it should be noted that the ban of any systematic colonization and this was one of the topics that had sparked debate organized from abroad, in the sense of turning the as in European political opinion, as well as in the country to a colony in the center of Europe. bosom of the delegation. And consequently two This political attitude was related to interests tendencies were shown, one in favor of Italy, and around Albania, which can deepen the national the second in favor of USA. crisis. Seen in this light, the neighboring While the other tendency, composed by Luigj propaganda, which carefully followed the political Bumçi, Mustafa Kruja, Turhan Pasha, Myfit situation on June 29, 1920, cautioned that Albania Libohova and Mehdi Frashëri sought Albania of was in a state of anarchy. There, according to it, 1913, as set the London conference and that of was a civil war between the one and the other Florence. Seeing in this plan Albania, they party, between one region and another. "Albania is acknowledge the assistance of the Italian state, but threatened by neighboring peoples who want to this assistance should not be the nature of conquer each one a part of it”5. "violating the sovereignty of the Albanian state”7. According to the Italian parliamentary This resulted from the reason that the Albanians interpretations, Albania was unable to maintain were not yet matured politically and, therefore, state by concretizing it with the issue of Vlora. they went even further, thinking that they should Albania, according to them, had no ship, no boat, not disrupt the politics with Italy. was unable to defend the independence of the city This view they supported by the decision they had taken in their permanent meetings which were held

4 - Arben Puto “Diplomatic History of the Albanian question 1878-1929 "Tirana, Albin 2003, p. 304. 6 - Ibid. p..305 5 - AQSH. F. MPJ, File 3, p.305 7 - AMPJ. File nr. 4, Paris on 24 May 1919, p. 23 (French).

62 Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development “Alexander Moisiu“ University, Durrës, Albania Vol (II), No.2, 2015 ______in Paris. So on May 24, 1919 in Paris, it was the most urgent possession of these regions from accepted an Italian prince of the house of Savoy to the Italian royal troops "11. the throne of Albania. This political initiative At the same time members of the delegation would not be effective if not accompanied by their followed with particular attention to the work of commitment to political power "to create Italian the committees at the Peace Conference, judging companies preferences and conditions in the that the Great Powers had more preference to financial and economic concessions in Albania”8. neighboring countries than to the existence of This political tendency had made concessions in Albanian territories. It looks even better through favor of Italian politics, but given the critical some records kept by Turhan Pasha in March 1919 conditions in which was Albania and in exchange in Paris, which, through analysis that made the for the guarantee of Albania's territorial integrity. committee had considered several Greek issue, on This political group reached to the approval of the February 27, 1919, had created the impression that military occupation right of strategic points of the delegates of the Great Powers had proceeded Vlora, Sazan Island and Zvërneci. But, on the other with great haste, which favored the possibility of hand, they had no compromise regarding materialization of Greek interests in the southern international treaty of Treaty of London of 1915, part of Albania and thus contraction of the stating specifically: "We can not recognize again Albanian territories. Italian possession of Vlora by an international The arguments for opposing this trend were of accord.”9. historical, ethnic and linguistic character. But it In view of the processing status of Albania, they seems that these were not sufficient to convince the were shown even more "brave", enabling Italy to peacemakers. Then they thought of organizing a military terms have the right to establish a naval plebiscite through which can be expressed political base in the port of Pasha, in the eastern part of the will of the provinces, to give a mandate to the USA Karaburun peninsula. But it is striking that at the government, which "would take and operate for a end of processing the case that we are considering; period of up to two years required territories, which they had above all concerns regarding the right of were conquered by the Greeks, and the territories sovereignty over the territory of Vlora, which must in the north-west of the Albanian state and remain intact in administrative, civil, financial and Montenegrins occupied by Serbs.”12. Here it came judicial terms: Vlora should "remain to Albanian to those Albanian provinces that can not be government"10. controlled by the Albanian state, not only from the This tendency required that Albania of 1913 to be impossibility, but also to the fact that the Albanian under the protection of Italy, and to argue this, we population was located across a massacre and fire, are referring to the letter of Turhan Pashë Përmeti which had become mandatory relocation of a sent to Baron Sonino, Minister of Foreign Affairs substantial portion of the population. This has been of Italy, regarding the Serbian military forces one of the most barbaric means, that neighboring which were sent in Debar, Lume, Has and which states found to put in front of fait accompli the had the task to organize a civilian administration. decision making of the Great Powers. Residents of these areas found within the borders Albania politically created in 1913 as an of Albania that was created by the London independent and neutral state, had a acquired right Conference in 1913, were against the installation of and "can not see fair," stated Luigj Bumçi, its civil authorities appointed by the Serbian military independence and integrity to be obliterated in the forces. But, seeing " foaming (budding)" that most ruthless manner. In this view, he thought he existed against this unfair possession, violation ought to protest policies that followed even Italy. which can lead to more dangerous complexities, in Here's how he says in early January 1920: "Italy these conditions he thought it ought to intervene on has no legitimate right over Vlora and its behalf of the Royal Government of Italy "in order hinterland. While Greece and Yugoslavia should be to be evacuated the Albanian mentioned regions by out of any measures against small and weak Serbian troops and be replaced by Italian troops, Albania. They do not have any rights over other which have (enjoy) the full confidence of Albanians. With this purpose, I give my support to

11 - AMPJ. Dosja nr. 3, Rome on 10 January 1919, p. 7 – To His Excellency, Baron Sonino, Minister of Foreign Affairs of 8 - Ibid., p. 24. the Kingdom of Italy (French). 9 - Ibid (paragraph five of the decision). 12 - AMPJ. File no. 9, March 3, 1919, p. 156. - Additional note 10 - Ibid,p. 23. for the recovery of Albanian regions.

63 The attitude of the albanian delegation … L.Ahmetaj ______parts of the territory”13. completed the London Pact”14. This political Status defined by the European Great Powers in the movement did not have remained isolated. They political dimensions of 1913, would be preserved had contacts with many groups of Albanians, who in case it would be possible to respect the Article worked intensively for the Albanian question, but 22 of the Treaty of Versailles, which prevented the especially Mehmet Konica and Turtulli had interference in the internal affairs of Albania by the stronger connections with the Albanians of powers concerned. Thus it was possible to avoid America and, through their support, they came up inter-Balkan conflict, because Albania was a node with the thesis that if Albania will be placed under point geographically, but also in terms of political "international trusteeship" custodian power would interests. Thus the intervention in the affairs of be USA. So its formulation also found the desire of Albania by the interested powers would create the various Albanian colonies, which urged Presidency possibility of fragmentation and loss of of the Paris Peace Conference15. independence, but, on the other hand, it would Discussions and debates have continued even in the provoke confusion in the Balkans. days after, but thesis in favor of Italy had gained Political tendency of Turhan Pasha, which was more ground, this perhaps because Italy was closer equated with the memorandum of 14 April, was to the Albanian question in the US. This was oriented towards Italy, although it was not in the followed by a new attempt has been made near the text which would be the desire of Albania. While Italian government, especially in the last week of the Albanian press of the time, domestically and May and early June of 1919. But as the basis for abroad, was the main topic of the day and positions the motion was served a letter of Turhan Pasha, expressed clearly. The same day that Turhan Pasha through which the decision was announced sent a memorandum to the Peace Conference government of Durres to recognize "strategic president, a group within the delegation took the interests" of Italy in Albania, and for this purpose position openly against Italy and sent a special approaching what some military bases near Vlora, letter Turhan. The letter had the signature of as Sazan Island, Karaburun and Zverneci. Turtull and Konica and was compiled with a Simultaneously, it was the idea of an Italian prince critical tone. Remark that the delegation was not on the throne of Albania and it was supposed to properly performing the mission that was tasked by serve as a valuable point of union between Italy Congress of Durres, while it was not clearly and Albania. This proposal was submitted on 28 explicated about "emptying of Vlora" by Italy. Italy May 1919 to the Italian delegate at the Peace demanded by any means Vlora and its Conference, A. De Martino 16. surroundings, and this created the opportunity for But while Conference circles in Paris were open roads and other land detachment and also continuing their discussions regarding a clearer endanger the existence of the union of Albanian definition of the content and the notion of the term, lands. Therefore, in these conditions, the delegation as a form of control that the European Great to protest in the most powerful way against clear Powers would decide on some of their former tendencies of Italy for obtaining Vlora, as a force colonies in Africa17. Of course a matter so that wanted to cut off vital parts of the territory, important to Albanians raise awareness on them, had no right to take the role of defender of Albania. and in the general opinion of Albanians outside the Mehmet Konica and Turtulli, as signatories of the Albanian territories the idea that Albania be put in letter, distanced themselves from pro-Italian equal position with the former African colonies attitude of the other group led by Turhan Pasha, could not be accepted. For this purpose, the and claimed that they would protect the interests of Albanian delegation sent a note to the Presidency Albania in the spirit of the mission that the of the Peace Conference on June 1, 1919, through Albanian people had entrusted to them. This thesis which opposed the release of Vlora, the mandate in seemed relied through a letter that Midhat Frashëri the form that would take on the status of the on 22 March 1919 sent Luigj Gurakuqi, where League of Nations. among other things wrote that there was "nothing to the protectorate under the protection of Italy, otherwise it will be said that we are instruments 14 - AQASH. F. Luigj Gurakuqi, viti 1919, file nr. 35, f. 177, (tools) to Italian politics, of that Italy which had Midhat Frasheri sents letter to Luigj Gurakuqi, Lozane, 22 March 1919. 15 - War of the Albanian people, vol. II, p. 167-170. 13 - AQSH. F. Kristo Dako, File nr. 7, Paris 15 January 1920, f. 16 - AQSH. Foreign Ministry Fund, D. nr. 6.Year 1919, p.45 8. Letter of Luigj Bumçi, addressed to Klemanso, President of 17 - Margaret Macmilan “ Paris 1919” Tirana, Plejada 2006, the Peace Conference. p.123

64 Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development “Alexander Moisiu“ University, Durrës, Albania Vol (II), No.2, 2015 ______Albanian delegation in Paris had the idea that 4. AMPJ. File nr. 4, Paris on 24 May 1919, p. 23 Albania would accept only a guardian who will (French). help it to make the first steps on the road to 5. AMPJ. Dosja nr. 3, Rome on 10 January 1919, p. autonomy. This idea was created, as were analyzed 7 – To His Excellency, Baron Sonino, Minister of state forces which operated actively in Europe, and Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy (French). beyond, while on the other hand, this did not 6. AMPJ. File no. 9, March 3, 1919, p. 156. - remove the delegates from the standpoint of the Additional note for the recovery of Albanian formation of the Albanian state relying primarily regions. on national intellectual forces, to show European 7. AQSH. F. Kristo Dako, File nr. 7, Paris 15 policymakers that Albanians were able and had the January 1920, f. 8. Letter of Luigj Bumçi, ability to form an Albanian state, which may be addressed to Klemanso, President of the Peace able to make policy with the neighboring countries Conference. and beyond. 8. AMPJ. File no. 9, March 3, 1919, p. 156. - Additional note for the recovery of Albanian Bibliografia regions. 1. AMPJ. Letter of M. Konica, M. Turtulli, M. 9. AQSH. F. Kristo Dako, File nr. 7, Paris 15 Frashëri, sent to the President of the Paris Peace January 1920, f. 8. Letter of Luigj Bumçi, Conference. File no. 10, April 14, 1919, p. 150, addressed to Klemanso, President of the Peace Doc. 739 copy (French). Conference 2. AMPJ. Letter of M. Konica, M. Turtulli, M. 10. AQSH. Foreign Ministry Fund, D. nr. 6.Year Frashëri, sent to the President of the Paris Peace 1919, p.45 Conference. File no. 10, April 14, 1919, p. 150, 11. Margaret Macmilan “ Paris 1919” Tirana, Doc. 739 copy (French). Plejada 2006, p.123 3. Arben Puto “Diplomatic History of the Albanian question 1878-1929 "Tirana, AQSH. F. MPJ, File 3, p.305

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