Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

875.01/10–1345: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)⁴³

Washington, October 13, 1945—6 p.m.

2161. Deptel 1088 to Moscow and 3882 to London May 14 [17]. With further reference to question of recognition of an Albanian Govt, please communicate to FonOff note along following lines:

“Govt of US informed Soviet and Brit Govts through American Embassies in Moscow and London on May 21 through May 22 respectively that an informal American Mission had entered Albania to survey conditions and developments there preliminary to consideration by this Govt of General Hoxha’s request for recognition and that upon receipt of final report of Mission this Govt would like to consult Soviet and Brit Govts with view to concerting respective policies on question of recognition of an Albanian Govt and, if circumstances required, formulating appropriate conditions for joint presentation to Albanian authorities as basis for recognition.

American Mission has now submitted its final report and recommendations. Having studied these findings and consulted with head of Mission, US Govt now desires to make known to Soviet and Brit Govts its principal conclusions on question of recognizing an Albanian Govt and to propose:

1. That recognition be accorded to present authorities in Albania as provisional Govt of Albania;

2. That act of recognition not take place, however, until Albanian authorities have engaged themselves to hold free elections to enable Albanian people to choose Reps to Constituent Assembly which would be empowered to decide upon a permanent form of Govt and establish a regular administration.

With regard to Point 1 above, this Govt believes that recognition should be accorded present regime in Albania because it enjoys greater popular support than any opposition group or combination of such groups, is in effective control of entire country, and has given evidence of ability to carry on functions of Govt and to fulfill international obligations. Present regime, which grew out of only effective pro-Allied resistance movement in Albania, has shown initiative and energy in dealing with problems of reconstruction and appears genuinely desirous of improving well-being of Albanian people.

Point 2 above is designed to safeguard right of Albanian people to choose form of Govt under which they will live, a right which has been repeatedly affirmed in such public documents as Atlantic Charter, Crimea Declaration on Liberated Europe and, in particular, statements by Soviet, Brit, and US Foreign Secretaries in December 1942.

Pledge by Albanian regime to hold free elections should, in this Govt’s view, comprise following points:

a. Elections should be conducted on genuinely free basis without any form of threat or intimidation;

b. All non-Fascist individuals and groups in Albania should enjoy freedom of speech and freedom to present their candidates and enlist support of people by all lawful and orderly means;

c. Elections should be by secret ballot;

d. Freedom of press should be maintained and foreign correspondents should be permitted to enter Albania to observe and report freely on election of Constituent Assembly and work of that body after its election.

In foregoing connection it is worthy of attention that Albanian Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation has already voluntarily passed an electoral law with provisions which appear to be in general consonance with Points a, b, and c above. US Govt does not consider it necessary or desirable for Allied Govts to require broadening of present Albanian regime before recognition, Allied supervision of elections, or postponement of recognition until elections have been held and permanent Govt established. Acceptance by Allied Govts of results of elections should, however, be made dependent upon their satisfaction with manner in which elections were conducted.

This Govt believes that action on question of recognition of an Albanian Govt should be taken at earliest possible moment in justice to Albanian people who have suffered long, fought hard for their liberty, and endured anomalous status for over 6 years. Any prolonged delay in according recognition can only have effect of discouraging unity among Albanians, diverting attention of present authorities from pressing problems of internal reconstruction, and preventing Albania from regaining representation and place within international communuity to which it is entitled. Moreover, continuation of present uncertainty regarding Albania’s status might endanger its independence, which Soviet, Brit, and US Foreign Secretaries in their statements of December 1942 said unequivocally they desired to see restored, and would render more difficult return to normal peace-time relationships among Balkan states.

If there is agreement on foregoing proposals, this Govt suggests that Gen Hoxha be informed simultaneously at an early date through Allied Reps in Albania of decision of Allied Govts to establish diplomatic relations with present Albanian regime as provisional Govt of Albania on understanding that that Govt engage itself to conduct elections in conformity with principles and procedures set forth above. It is believed that it would be desirable for such notification to be given on or before Nov 1 in order to insure that pledge required of Albanian authorities will be effective during campaign for elections, which are scheduled to take place on Dec 2.”

Sent to Moscow and London.

Byrnes

43. Repeated to London as telegram 9108. The views expressed in this telegram were sent to Paris in telegram 4774 on October 13 for communication to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department added that the Ministry would be kept informed of the British and Soviet replies so that “the French may be in a position, if they so desire, to take parallel action”. (875.01/10–1345)