THE PROBLEM OF ALBANIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26352, 6 January 1947, Page 4

THE PROBLEM OF ALBANIA

For such a small and relatively backward country Albania during the past year has absorbed a quite disproportionate amount of the attention which the outside world gives to the Mediterranean area. The reason for this, it is safe to suggest, is the new prominence of Yugoslavia which, prompted by her Soviet mentor, is persistently seeking better outlets to. the sea. Behind the Yugoslav claims to VeneziaGiulia and Trieste lie the aspirations of Communist East and Central Europe, and behind the Corfu incidents and the guerrilla warfare on the Greek frontier the same forces are active, though possibly to a lesser extent. It should be remembered that the Government of Albania is now Communistic and that in July Albania signed a twenty-year treaty of friendship and collaboration with Yugoslavia “ to safeguard the mutual independence and sovereignty two countries.” The Albanians, however, are essentially a traditionally-minded and independent people, and the present Government may not be fully representative of the feeling of the. nation. Indeed some "authoritative observers have emphasised that, in spite of the present ties between the two countries, Albania is not merely a satellite of Jugoslavia. The situation is a most delicate one. It is obviously not to Great Britain’s advantage to drive Albania into closer relationships with the Communist forces, but at the same time it is essential that the recent demonstrations of Albanian “ sovereignty,” which have flagrantly transgressed international law, should be met with uncompromising firmness. Some months ago Albania applied for admission to the United Nations, the application being opposed by Great Britain, America, and Greece. The American causes of disagreement are not clear except that they relate to charges of the non-obser-vance of pre-war treaties which has now led America to break off diplomatic relationships. Great Britain urged Albania’s non-admission on the grounds of the unsatisfactory nature of the Albanian Government’s policy towards Great Britain, Greece and other members of the United Nations. Greece was the principal objector, laying charges that Albania had assisted the Axis forces in the invasion of Greece, had endeavoured to denationalise the Greek minority in Northern Epirus (Southern Albania), and had repeatedly violated the Greek frontier since the autumn of 1945. Great Britain’s objections were reinforced by the shelling of British cruisers in May and by the mining of British destroyers in the Corfu channel in October. On each occasion Albania’s reply was unsatisfactory and when, despite Albanian protests, Great Britain swept the channel it was found that the mines had been newly laid and must have been placed | either with the knowledge or the • connivance of the Albanian authorij lies. His Majesty’s Government has I accordingly pressed for an immei diate explanation, and is now pre- | paring to lay a complaint before the Security Council. The Greek claim to Northern Epirus is undoubtedly

one of the main causes Of the present trouble. If persists in her present attitude she is in danger oi losing this area, and if so she will have little option but to permit her remaining territory to be absorbed in Yugoslavia. This, however, would not suit either Albania or Great Britain. It is suggested that there is room to hope that, despite President Hodja’s trenchant New Year message, the Albanian Government will mellow, or be succeeded by a Government with which friendly relations will be less difficult.