Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-23

.ANUARY ~. 1918.
which il equally, and probably more.
/ wise. Mr.. Wilson's statement in re-
gard to the shadowy Independence of
the Balkan states brings forth the
Iquestion OF Albania which was made
an independent sovereign state in
1912 and remains q to the present
day. co~nstructively at least.
zone cannot understand thus.
why SO much space is given to b
! coast while not q mention is made Of
the. preponderantly Adriatic position
Of Albania. Should this be attributed
to ignorance OF the real situation and
import of the Adriatic problem or to
the telling that the principle of self
determination and nationality have
been abandoned before 1T was even
inadvertently beginning to acquiesce
in the old system of diplomacy which
was speaking of the principle Of ma
tionalities in order to single out the
nationalities that were to be extermi-
mated?
I'm 1912, Albania was recognized
as an independent sovereign state UNI
der the collective protection of the
then six great powers, following the
Albanians themselves. Moreover. to
insure the new state against agrees
sion, the powers proceeded to neutral
lie It by giving 1t a status similar to
that hitherto enjoyed by Belgium. in
order to violate that status a. little
later just as Germany did in regard to
Belgian neutrality.
ION June 8, 1917. however, the
italian government proclaimed again
Since then Italy has taken charge of
the protection of the rights and inter-
ests Of Albania, and n has but to
sincerely wish that the Italian gov
eminent, being fully ware Of and in
accordance with the views Of Presi-
dent Wilson and of the Albanians in
that respect, will do everything in its
power to safeguard the independence
and national rights Of Albania.
Signs of Disagreement Seen.
"Still there are some signs that
point to the existence Of a serious
divergence Of views between Italy
! Italian proclamation in regard to
Albania the commander of the French
troops which occupied the Albanian
district and city Of Korcha or Koritsa,
eastern Albania established and rec
ognized the independent republic of
Korcha.' This act is very significant
in view Of the recent but unconf1rmed
report that the French military au-
thorities have handed over this dis
trict t o the Greek troops, not only in
violation of the proclamation, but also
in the face Of the opposition of its in
habitants, who did express through O
solemn plebiscite conducted by the
French military authorities three
months ago their determination to re-
main Albanians. :
"If the report be tEYe it would be
evident that NJ. Clemenceau is already
beginning to carry out his favorite
project of the balance Of power. for
by this action he would certainly be
st irving to counterbalance the con-
templated Italian protection over the
rest Of Albania by giving to Greece a
considerable part Of Albanian terri
tory. And once this baneful process is
set in motion none knows where 1t will
stop and what nations it will not at
feet.
"Unhappily these proceedings pass
unnoticed when Albania is con-
cerned, for though she has been de-
clared Independent untoward cir
cumstances have so far ndere m
possible the formation of an Albanian
government. It is, indeed, a regret
table phenomenon that Italy should
have left hat unfortunate country
without a central organized body, al
though almost all subordinate civil
authorities are Albanian, and although
the Italian government has repeatedly
|. promised to the Albanians that they
soon will have a national government
Of their own. 1t was only a few days
~~~ <ho$5fho onxyornrnor nf Rome, In
vited the principal Albanian leaders
t to italy to confer with them on the
avowed necessity of forming a central
5 government for Albania, but nothing
favorable has been heard as yet.
Albanians Still Anxious.
NATURALLY enough, the fault cannot
be laid on the Albanians, who are as
anxious as ever to have such a consti.
tuted body in their country during
that Italy is the only power which 'has
openly declared itself in favor Of the
re-establishment of Albania and or
whose support the hopes Of the AL
banians are conferred today, n is un
able to understand what meaning is
to be attached to the explicit state
ment Of the official Italian proclama'
ton Of June 3, 1917, to the effect tina,
by virtue of this proclamation AL
Oan1a small nave HcE AIec 6OScI AAAlA0AS
etc. Is it possible that all the faitf
and confidence the Albanians have
put in the Italian government ma,
prove unwarranted in the very end:
"It is in view of these trying cir
cumstances and of the approaching
peace conference. that the free AL
banians Of the United States pro
ceeded to call an extraordinary con
vention in Boston. This convention
which represented the Albanians liv
ing in North America, assembled De
cember 20, 1918. .
ION January 4, the very day Presi,
dent Wilson was addressing the Ital
ian parliament on the necessity o.
safeguarding the independence of thu
Balkan states. the convention passed
a resolution to appeal to the govern
ments Of America and associated pow
ers for the restoration of the 'nationa
independence and sovereignty OF Al,
bania under international guarantees
for the rectification of her frontier.
so as to include all purely or pre-
ponderantly Albanian regions which
have been u~njustly Gu off from thu
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