The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-07

blers in politics, belonging to the
press and the general public, that the
promising 'rapprochement" with Eng
land through Haldane had been wreck
ed by the obstinacy of the Emperor
and Admiral Won Tirpitz and by their
clinging to the naval bill against the
wishes OF all sensible counselors.'
kingship of Albania
At that time Gin 1922 the question
of the establishment of an independ-
ent Albanian State and the choice by
the powers of head for it, was
brought to my attention also. A num-
Der OF candidates lusting for a crown
had already presented themselves be-
fore the tribunal of the powers, with
out getting themselves accepted;
number of candidates, considered by
the powers, wer declined by the AL
banians. l looked upon the matter in
itself with Indifference, and was of
the opinion that-as in the case of
every creation of a nation
greatest possible attention should be
paid to historical development, also
to geographical peculiarites and the
customs of the Inhabitants.
! In this peculiar land there has never
/ been any united nation under one ruler
and one dynasty. In valleys, encircled
/ and cut off by high mountain ranges.
/ The Albanian tribes live separated to
4 a considerable degree fro each other
Their political system is not unlike
4 the clan system of the Scotch Christ
/ ians and Mohammedans are represent
ed in equal numbers
The custom of vendetta" is an
ancient one, sanctified by tradition
which is no less true of robbery and
cattle stealing. Agriculture is still in
a backward stage of development,
farming is in its infancy, the nipple
ments used therein date from before
the flood.
The head man of the clan dispenses
justice in the open, under the village
tree, as it used to be done once upon
a time among the ancient Germans.
Every man is armed and most are ex-
cellent shots. Whenever the head man
OF the clan turns up while on horse
back tour through his territory in
some hamlet, the inhabitants expect
a blessing from him in the form of
jingling coins, which sometimes are
scattered about him from the saddle.
This, of course, is particularly Gust
omary at the outset of a new govern
ment's term, and great is the dis
satisfaction when it does not happen.
Up to the time of the Balkan War
many Albanians entered the Turkish
service, where they rose to high i'm
portance, being greatly priced on ac-
count of their diligence and keen intel
ligence, as we'll as their tenacious
energy. They supplied the Turkish AID
ministration with a large number of
oil Hrith a.
age in the diplomatic corps and the
army. The young Albanian mobiles
were proud to serve in a splendid
company of palace guards of the Sui
tan, which scarcely had an equal for
size, martial appearance and manly
beauty. These were partly relatives OF
the Sultan, since the latter used to
/. have noble Albanian women of the
i. principal clans in his harem in order
that he-protected by blood brother
hood-might be safe from the wen
dettas" of the clans, and, also, that
he might find out everything that
might serve to influence the feelings
= of the Albanian chieftains. The de
sires of the Albanians which reached
! him by this road-for instance, as to
supplies of arms and ammunition
school houses, building of highways
etc.-were thereupon granted in an
!. inconspicuous manner. Thus the Sui
tan was enabled to keep the usually
turbulent Albanians quiet and loyal by
means of family ties"
With this knowledge of the state oil
affairs as a foundation, | sought tC
bring my influence to bear toward hav
ing Mohammedan Prince chosen, il
{ possibel-perhaps an Egyptian Prince
? not forgetting that he should have
| well-lined purse which is an abso
lutte necessity in Albania. My advice
J was not needed by the "Areapagus o.
the powers whose members were no
: bothering themselves with the inter
= ests of the Albanians, but seeking, frs
| of all, for pretexts and opportunitie:
: for fishing in the troubled Albanian
= waters in such a way as to benefit
> their own countries.
Opposed Choice of German
: Therefore, | was not at all pleased
t when the choice fell upon Prince vii
liam of WED. | esteemed him as {
; distinguished, knightly man of lofty
t sentiments, but considered him unfit
! ted for the post The Prince knew
. altogether too little about Balkan af
J fairs to be able to undertake thi,
: thorny task with hope of success. 1
: was particularly unpleasant to me tina
a German Prince should make a foo
: of himself there, since it VS. apparen
2 from the start that the Entente would
| place all sorts of obstacles in his path
: Upon being questioned by the Prince
: l told my cousin all my doubts, layiny
: stress upon the difficulties awaitin,
him, and advised him urgently to de
cline l could not command him
I since the Prince of Wied, as heard o
: the family, had the final word in tn,
) matter
: After the Princes acceptance of tn,
candidacy offered him by the powers
e | received him in the presence of tn,
: Chancellor. A certain irresolution il
: the bearing of the Prince, who contem
Y plated his new task with anythinj
: but enthusiasm, strengthened the re
: solve in me and the Chancellor to TT,
r hard once more to dissuade the youn,
r candidate from ascending the recent,
/ invented Albanian throne" But il
= vain. The ambitious, mysticaIIy ex
a cited wife Of the Prince saw in Alban
2 ia the fulfillment of her wishes. AM
r zee que femme veut, Dieu lie veut
/ (what woman wishes, God wishes)
b Carman Sylvia (the Queen of Ru
d mania) also worked toward having hin
n accept; she went so far, in fact, as t
/ publish an article in the newspaper