Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Paris Peace Conference: Proceedings, Volume III

CFM Files

United States Delegation Journal

September 26, 1946, 10 a.m.

USDel (PC) (Journal) 53

The Commission considered the articles of Sections V and VI (Albania and Ethiopia). Sig. Tarchiani (Italy) spoke on the economic aspect of the articles relating to Albania and Ethiopia. He made a distinction between Italian investments in Albania and Ethiopia prior to Fascist aggressions and those made following the invasions of these countries respectively. He asked that Italian state property and assets in Albania and Ethiopia be taken into account in the settlement of economic relations with those two countries describing the nature and value of Italian building and improvements. The Albanian Delegation submitted its views with respect to Articles 21 to 26, inclusive. For full text of remarks see CP (IT/P) Doc. 86.⁵¹

The representative of Yugoslavia spoke in favor of his Delegation’s amendments to Articles 21 and 25 (CP Gen. Doc. 1 U 12 and 13, respectively), which (1) would add the phrase “territorial integrity” to Italian recognition of Albanian sovereignty and independence and (2) would provide Albania with the rights of an Associated Power for the purposes of the treaty. The representative of Poland introduced and defended his amendment (CP Gen Doc. 1 O 3) to Article 21 obliging Italy to establish diplomatic relations with the Albanian Government. The representative of the Ukraine supported the Yugoslav amendment to Article 21 while the representatives of Byelorussia and the Soviet Union supported the Yugoslav amendment to Article 25. Both Yugoslav amendments and the Polish amendment were opposed by Mr. Dunn who said, however, that the U.S. Delegation would be willing to propose a modification in Article 73, when the Commission reached that point in the treaty, to add Albania to “Allied and Associated Powers” and thus include that country in the benefits of the economic clauses mentioned therein. M. Couve de Murville (France) agreed with this latter suggestion but said that his Delegation would abstain from voting on the Yugoslav amendment to Article 25.

The representative of Greece submitted his Delegation’s amendment (CP Gen Doc. 1 J 5) to Article 22 providing for the “return” of the island of Saseno to Greece and its demilitarization under UNO. The amendment was opposed by the Soviet Delegate. Discussion on Section V of the treaty was declared closed, and the Albanians left the Conference hall.

The Yugoslav amendment to Article 21 (CP Gen Doc. 1 U 12) was adopted by a vote of 10 to 9 with one abstention. The Polish amendment to Article 21 (CP Gen Doc. 1 O 3) was defeated by 15 votes to 4 with one abstention. Article 21 as amended was likewise adopted by a vote of 11 to 1 with 8 abstentions, including that of the U.S. The Greek representative made a reservation with respect to this Article since, as amended, it involved the territorial frontiers of Albania. He said that while his Government subscribed to the sovereignty and independence of Albania it reserved its position with respect to Northern Epirus. The Greek amendment to Article 22 was rejected by 13 votes to 2. Article 22 was thereafter adopted by 15 votes to 1, with 4 abstentions. Articles 23 and 24 were adopted and referred to the Italian Economic Commission for consideration. The second Yugoslav amendment to Article 25 (CP Gen Doc. 1 U 13) was defeated by 12 votes to 6, with 2 abstentions. Finally Articles 25 and 26 were adopted by the Commission.

51. Not printed.