New Britain herald., 1928-08-25
WILLIAMS COULD
HAVE been king
Former Congressman Once Was
Offered Albanian Sceptr

plain citiseR Of the United States
might be the ruler of Albania today
instead OF Ahmed Xogu. former tri.
bal chteftatR who has been chosen
KING, If he were the kind Of 4 man
VINO would be king-and II he
weren't too much the American
business man.
George Fred Williams, former
member Of congress from Maass.
chusetts and for Z time United
States minister to Greece. now M
attorney In Boston. had the royal
scepter almost In his grasp 4 few
years ago when the country was In
state OF disorder after Prince VIII
liam of Weld had given up an at
tempt to rule. rendered the job Of
establishing q now government. MIR.
Williams turned 1t down when he
learned there was nothing with
which to work but he offered his
help in finding the financial mater
ials for reconstruction and came
back to the United Htatea to get
them. The World war halted his
efforts and he has not been back
since.
Shortly after the end of the war
Albania became a republic with u
constituent assembly. For soma
time Ahmed Zogu. ss-year-old chief
OF the Matt tribe has been preai-
dent. The monarchy. which existed
for two brief periods in Albanian
history. once in the 18th century
and again in the 18th, is now b ing
restored and Zosu has been chosen
as King Scanderbes Ill.
Mr.. Williams now on a vacation
here. is not inclined 10 envy the new
sovereign and, in fact, he sees in
the latest Developments a serious
threat at the peace Of the Balkans.
Neither Is he particularly concerned
az to whether he might have had
the throne himself. This il the way
1t happened, as he describes It:
After Prince Wisd quit. a lot Of
Albanian chiefs wanted to meet me
and arranged for \ conference at
Corfu. They came down and l met
them there. The wanted me to 70
into Albania and help form q new
government. ! asked them what
means they had with which to aet
up government and they said they
hadn't any. ! said, I can't under
take what you want unless you pro-
vide some means. III go back to
the States and try to get some help
Il came over in October, ls1<-
but then the World war was on and,
OF course, it was utterly impossible;
Albania was only speck, entirely
lost sight of in the greater events
OF the war. If had stayed I might
have done something on my own ae-
count but"
Mr.. Williams was drawn into tho
affairs Of the Albanians after he be-
came minister to Greece and Monte
negro in 1913 and it was due to his
efforts in behalf Of tho people OF A.
bania that he terminated his di.,lo.
matte career after little more than 4
years service. Previously he had
had considerable governmental ex-
perience. A native Of Massac husetts
and a member OF the bar since 1875,
he served In tho state legislature
and in congress. He was active In
the democratic party. which made
him its candidate for governor SOW
e,ral times after the election Of
'oodrow Wilson a. president, he
Vas tend.red the diplomatic post at
Athens.
Shortly before his arrival there
The London ambassa dorial confer.
encs of 1912. recognized tho prin-
c!ple OF Albanian Independence, AZ
an outgrowth Of the Balkan wars
mat had just ended. The Prusstan
Prince William OF Wied was named
rs sovereign. In the words Of Mr..
williams, "The Albanians wouldn't
have him" and eventually he retired
from the country. It was then that
disorder developed. For a time
another Boston man, Archbishop
Noii Of the Albanian church, sought
TO restore peace and bring about q
stable government.
Opinions expressed In Belsrade
that Italy Is supporting the new
!anedom arc concurred in by Mr..
Williams.
"zogu.' he said, was the chief
tain Of tire tribe of Matt. He got his
education-what education he has
IN Vienna. He Is an active, ener-
setic young person and he got to-
gether an army ana drove out Noli
and secured control by force, He
has finally attached himself to Italy
and the outcome Is an alliance TO
bring about this change In govern.
ment. don't think he could do 1t
otherwise. II Italy supports him
there Is no chance for Noil and his
followers 10 oppose him.
The British have an Interest
there. too. They had a large oil con-
cession in Albania which Zosu gave
Them"
Mr.. Williams' diplomatic career
In Greece came to an end after he
sent = written protest against the
massage Of q group Of Albanians 10
tHe minister OF war.
"A report reached me that the |
Epirote government. made up Of
Greek soldiers and politicians. was
discussing the slaughter OF Aiban-
ians In Argyrokastro and tho Alban.
ians believe ! saved them" he said.
Il wrote letter to the minister Of |
war. notifying him that ! had salts.
lied myself he was responsible for
the previous massacre and that II |
any more were forthcoming I
should denounce him to the world. J
That act, of course. ended 10Y min I.
istry and l resigned" 4,
RADIO FOR HOSPITAL !
Marlboro, Mass. AUG. rs RH;
Patients at Marlboro hospital are to.