The United States and the Italian influence in Albania : six diplomatic documents 1928-1939

Περίληψη

It is difficult to discuss the history of American-AIbanian relations in
the decades preceding the Second World War without constantly referring
to the Italian government. Although it recognized thè politicai indépendance
of the Albánián government, the United States did not assure this independent
government against the increasing Italian influence which occurred in the
two decades following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. In spite of their
ability to expel their ethnie enemies from their homeland, the Albánián tribes
were unable to govern themselves harmoniously, and as American diplomats
watched, the politica! corrupti which accompanied the monarchical rule of
King Zogu only encouraged the Italian government to extend gradually its politicai hegemony over this Balkan kingdom, especially during the years
which immediately preceded the outbreak of the Second World War. Even
though it stood to gain important economic concessions in this Balkan kingdom,
the United States exhibited little interest in Albania, and during thè era
of ‘isolationism’, the State Department ignored all warnings of the approaching
crisis in this Balkan nation. It was not until the actual invasion of Albania
by the Italian forces on Good Friday of 1939 that American diplomats
finally realized the real significance of Italian expansionism in the Balkans.
By April 1939, however, the overall situation could not be changed, and in
the words of one American observer, Albania —both then and now— remains
for the United States “the least known country in Europe...”.