Italy, Secret Treaty of London and the Albanian Issue

Xhilda Shuka

doi:10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n2p219

Abstract

Through this work we aim to analyze the Italian attitude towards the Albanian state at the beginning of the XX century, based on the treatment of the Secret Treaty of London in May 1915. This treaty synthesised the Italian policy towards the newly established Albanian state, during one of the most difficult periods of Europe, the First World War. Newly established Albanian state with its truncated borders of the London Conference in 1913, deserved to have at least the support of the overseas neighbor, Italy, and this would bring friendship and mutual interest. But Italy although an affirmed world power, failed to rise beyond an shortsighted and imperialist interest versus Albania, aiming through this treaty to divide Albanian lands with other treacherous neighbors, and eventually disappear the descendants of the great Skanderbeg, of Pyrrhu, Ali Pasha, the Great Kostandin, the ancient Pellazgo- Illyrians. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n2p219

Highlights

Albania today is the product of a great war for national survival
Imperiali, predicted these in London. At first he had thought it would arouse objections only Italian requirements for the Austro-Hungarian territories inhabited by Slavs (Sonnino, dok.144, 175), while on March 13, 1915 he wrote to Rome: "I do not know why I have the impression that on this point", ie the existence of the Albanian state, "we may find resistance from the Antanta, which I think prefers more to satisfy the Serbian aspirations on Durres" (Sonnino, dok. 180)
The overseas Italy has historically recognized the Albanian contribution to European history, with the great Skanderbeg, rider of Western civilization

Summary

Introduction

Albania today is the product of a great war for national survival. Surrounded by neighbors with a less friendly orientation in the course of history, to Italy, Albania has seen a window to western civilization, always even in the darkest periods of its history. The grand strategist Scanderbeg was connected to a sincere friendship with Italian princes, being assembled alongside them in support of his soldiers, and waiting from them support to the exemplary resistance against the Ottoman Empire Not coincidentally, after his death Albanians migrated and settled in the Italian lands and not elsewhere, creating the Arberesh community that even today retains their language and ancestral traditions. Their idea was conceived as a strategy from the design of the Secret Treaty of London (1915), among the countries of the Antanta and Italy Based on this context we intend to take with this work further light, to understand and deepen better and more Italian stance towards the Albanian issue in World War I, and especially the Secret Treaty of London. The novelty of this work lies in the way of interconnected reflection, the internal and external, current and historical facts that led to the Italian attitude toward the Albanian issue in that period. The literature consists of primary historical sources, such as manuscripts and the dailies of that period, memories of historical persons of the respective period, as well as secondary sources: historical publications and the most significant scientific articles about this issue

Italy and World War I

Approval of Italian sovereignty over the region of Vlora

The discussion on the borders of the new Albanian state

The secret treaty of London and the Peace Conference

Conclusions