The facsimile of the rare telegram of American President Wilson to Albania is revealed: Be very careful...

I was able to find a facsimile of a rare telegram from US President Woodrow Wilson to Albania, when he was leaving the Paris Peace Conference in June 1919. The contents of the telegram have been more or less known, but now we have a photograph of the original.

It says:

"Before leaving, I wanted to express to you and other colleagues my very deep interest in the fate of Albania. I am afraid that in the multitude of other things that may seem more pressing and important, the attention that should be paid to those rights is underestimated. Please be very careful about them."

The telegram, dated June 30, 1919, was sent from the SS George Washington on which the president was traveling.

Wilson stayed in Paris for 6 and a half months to participate in the Peace Conference, where, among other things, the fate of Albania after the war would be decided.

After numerous discussions, the issue of Albania remained unresolved. An Italian protectorate was discussed in particular. A part of the Albanian delegation wanted America to take the mandate over Albania. They insisted that America give Albania a small military force for police duties, a civilian governor with governance experts, and a loan of several million dollars that the country could repay with oil and other resources.

Woodrow Wilson

The plan was submitted to Wilson and he sought the opinion of the experts he had received in Paris. The idea of ??an American mandate turned out to be unfeasible. The idea of ??an Italian protectorate won, but the neighbor's schemes for the dismemberment of Albania complicated the situation.

Wilson was afraid that after his escape from Paris, Albania would be divided. This is also the meaning of the telegram he sent to his secretary of state, Robert Lansing.

Telegrami

woodrow wilson