Steps towards Recognizing the New Albanian State by the United States of America (1921-1922)

Abstract

Our referral will focus on the time frame of 1921 to July of 1922, when the Albanian state was recognized by the United States. The introduction will briefly treat the state of Albania post World War I, notably (particularly) after Lushnja Congress in January 1920 and the formation of the temporary government lead by Sulejman Delvina , (followed by its) and the struggling effort to consolidate the new Albanian state in the domestic affairs and foreign affairs, two of which were the achievements of Albania’s accession to the Leagues of Nations on December 17th 1920 and the Albanian State Recognition from the Ambassadors Conference on November 9 1921. This was followed by the recognition of Albanian origins from other European countries and onwards. Firstly, it will examine the level of affairs between Albania and United States throughout the year 1920, where the Albanian side tied relations with U.S. authorities through a diplomatic path and requested its support for recognition of the Albanian state by the Congress of Ambassadors in Paris. Simultaneously, it will reflect the government's requirements for recognition of the Albanian state in the U.S. Department of State, starting from March 1920, continuing to repeat these claims even after. At the same time Albanian government representatives engaged its diplomatic corps at the nearby countries in which it had established diplomatic relations to enter into negotiations with American representatives there. Subject treating will be the establishment of an Albanian consular office near the famous Albanian society in Boston "Vatra" (the‘’Hearth’’), the office that would keep constant connection with the U.S. government. Secondly, it will treat the role of the Federation "Hearth" to sensitize the American public opinion, for the recognition of the Albanian state from the United States, strengthening its ties with the local press for this problem; as well as a variety of politicians personalities of American society to support its lobbying. Additionally, it will be give the facts about its contacts with the U.S. Department of State for the implementation of Albanian’s state recognition. This issue will indicate the role of some American personalities, old cognitive of Albania and its long-time friends such as the Kennedy couple, Çarls, Telford. Erickson, etc. Thirdly, this paper will follow treating the further growth of the Albanian request near by U.S. by the end of the year 1921, when by this time the Conference of Ambassadors had already recognized Albanian state. These efforts were increased in the spring of 1922. In particular, attention will be paid to the reaction of the American party that decided to investigate the political, economic and social origin in Albania. In this context, we will analyze the activity of Maxwell Blake, the representative of the United States arrived in Albania in June 1922. He would inform the Department of State in America of the degree of stability in the Albanian government as well as for investment opportunities of American capital in Albania, which was accompanied by a recommendation for recognition of the Albanian state, which was held on July 28, 1922. The process of establishment of diplomatic relations associated with its acts and its relevant clauses will not be part of the scope of this referral but perhaps of any other scientific activity. The referral will be based mainly on literature and monographs and various scientific articles surrounding the issue at hand as well as archival sources, Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and in some organs of the press of the period we are confronting.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n3p124