Evening journal., 1919-06-04
Albania and IfaIy's
Reconstruction Work
By DR.. Leopold Vaccsro.

In the recent dispatches from Paris
Albania has figured prominently in
connection with the aspirations Of
neighboring States and President vii
sons manifesto on the Adriatio qucs-
-tion.
u will not be amiss 10 discuss
briefly the Albanian situation IN view oi
the great amount of incompetent talk
and criticism OF the present Italian
rr0iectorate of Albania
Albania is rugged picturesque.
mountainous country, looking down
from the heights Of he Akrokeraunian
mountains. spoken OF by Horace and
Byron. upon the Adriatic and across 10
60 the opposite shores Of Italian Puelia.
rising. terraccd and clear out Of the
shlning waters
TWo-thirds of me Alhanians are
good NIohammedane. though they hate
The Turk and his political and military
domination worse. perhaps, than any
other Of the several forcign lordships
b. which they have been subjected or
with which they have been threatened
in the course Of centuries. and az least
as well as they hate tho Greek. With
Venice they got along capitally. since
Venice knew enough Of history and
politics i'm a general way. NOT 10 force
nati0nalities. not 10 abuse and oppress
the land financially. and TO give them
on the other hand. an the benefit of her
finished and perfected civilization To
his day the olive groves Of Nalona tes-
hfy 10 the civilNng influences NJ Ven
Ice. for IL was the republic that had
them planted and paid a silver coin as
a price for every plant reaching a Ger
tain height and size Richifully enough,
then. is the Lion Of st. Mark. to this day
a symbol dear to The memory of The
Ahanians.
Tho Many Albanian Tribes
The Albanian language. primordial in
IFS information. has no written litcra-
ture but IN IFS place boasts what we
might call @ noble rhapsodic tradition.
soncs. legends. historical and epic mar
rations. familiar to the people handed
5own ihrough centuries and generations
llone with The wonderful silver fur
luoise ard coral icVclry with the bril-.
liant colors and omhroiderics of the
vomcn's attire. with the extremely pic
iuresqilo acceuiromont Of ihc mon. Thus
as wcll-dcfncd unit in tradition Ian
cuace and nationally. have the Aban-
ans reached the threshold of modern
iy through endless strife and struggle
tho fate of The bordcrlands and never
achieved Well-dchned political nosi-
ion of their own. because Of one short
coming and imperfection in their ma
lional unit internal discord and ri
,alry. With AN their magnificent primi-
i've forces and uncurbed aiavistic ira
iitions. raging among tlieW the Nlhau-
ans arc today selfadmiitedly. imma-
iurc FOR self governmeni and apt 20 fan
prey io the most INSCRIPTIONS of their
various neishbors therefore. Of the
least desirable. not only 10 them but m
the whole Of civilized Europe. that is.
as matters stand TODAY. 10 the whole 0f
the Alilies.
Proclamation of Independence
In November 1912, on the part Of a
number Of delesstes Of the various Al
bsnian tribes, and tho consequent con-
stitution OF a provisional government.
with lsmail komal hey for iis chief. Az
bania declared her independence. This
proclamation disguised Greece. who
rad her own views on AZ least part of
Albania. and proceeded 70 answer 80 by