Untitled

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12726, 22 August 1919, Page 4

A country about which comparatively little has been heard since the great war broke out, but which commanded a fairly large amount of attention in diplomatic and court circles before that event, is Albania. To the European Powers Albania was a constant source of trouble in those pre-war days, that is, from their point of view. The Albanians were animated by a natural desire to have the Turkish yoke removed, and to secure the freedom that for years had been enjoyed by their near neighbours, the Serbians, Montenegrins and Greeks. Finally the Powers settled the matter, apparently to their satisfaction, by selecting a German pnncelet—William of Wied, who subsequently was generally referred to by irreverent Press writers as “ William the Weed ” —to rule over the turbulent country. This appointment was resented by a section of the people, which, after Wied had'occupied his post for a brief period, became so threatening in its attitude that be incontinently fled and returned to Germany. This bap pened not very long before the war fury descended upon the world, and the Powers were too busily occupied with attending to the momentous affairs affecting their own positions to have any time to spare over such a small tract of the world’s surface as Albania. The Serbians, in their retreat before the Austrians and the Bulgarians, passed through a portion of Albania as the only way of escape, and since then not more than brief mention has been made of the affairs in that little known and less understood country. But that it is still hopeful of emerging from the troubles it has passed through, that it has no intention of letting slip the claims it has on the Allies for services rendered, was made manifest by its appeal to them for recognition. Seemingly Its future has not been determined, but its having leaked out that Italy was to be given a mandatory over Albania and ownership of the port of Valona, and that the partition of the northern and southern districts, to Serbia and Greece respectively, had been decided upon, a vehement protest was registered and it was announced in the protest that the Albanians were “ firmly determined to stand against any such disposal of themselves and their country.” Under the circumstances as presented in , the Albanian protest, one cannot but admit that should the decision to dismember Albania be correct and ultimately given effect to, the action of the Allies would savour of gross ingratitude. But it has to be remembered that the Albanian side only has .been presented in the foregoing brief retrospect of events.