Ask the Scholar
Page 22 of 44
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
SECRE
b. Yugoslavia
Before the Communist-directed rapprochement between the two coun-
tries, Albania and Yugoslavia were not on friendly terms, the chief bone
of contention being the Kosovo plain area of Yugoslavia, north and north-
east of Albania. The Turks settled this district with Albanians following
the Turkish defeat of Serbian forces there at the end of the fourteenth
century, and an estimated half million Albanians still remain. Albania,
however, has now abandoned its claim to the area in return for Tito's
friendship and aid.
Albania and Yugoslavia have signed the following agreements:
(1) an all-inclusive economic pact (see Section II): (2) a protocol on the
resumption of border traffic between Yugoslavia and Albania; (3) a treaty
of friendship and mutual assistance; (4) a civil aviation agreement; and
(5) a maritime agreement. Secret military agreements also appear to have
been concluded between the two countries.
Despite the Hoxha regime's insistent protestations of Albanian in-
dependence, these agreements (particularly the economic accord) would make
the incorporation of Albania as a Federated Republic of Yugoslavia little
more than a formality. The exact nature of future Yugoslav-Albanian rela-
tions will depend upon the formation of a Balkan Federation. Until that
time, however, Albania will be allowed to preserve an appearance and even
a measure of independence in the hope that it can obtain membership in the
UN.
C. Greece
Factors in Greek-Albanian relations are: Greek claims to northern
Epirus (southern Albania); alleged Greek treatment of Chams; alleged Al-
banian help to Italians in Greek war; Greece's harboring of Albanian dis-
sidents; and Albanian aid to Greek Communist guerrillas. An additional
irritant is Albanian resentment over Greek ownership of the island of Corfu.
Greece is still "at war" with Albania.
(1) Epirus
The disputed territory of northern Epirus lies south of a
line drawn from Valona on the Adriatic to Pogradec on Lake Ohrid. Its
total population is about 290,000. The Greeks, citing ethnic, histori-
cal and strategic factors, have asked for this area as "a matter of
simple justice" based on Greece's role in World War II. Ethnically,
their claim does not appear justified, as it is based on the erroneous
assumption that all Orthodox Christians in the area (variously esti-
mated to number from 120,000 to 130,000) are Greeks. The League of
Nations inquiry commission, which visited the area in 1921-23, produced
*
See footnote, p. II-2.
III-3
SECRET.
Page data
- Page
- 22
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 3354fe4785c70e70
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 486498689
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "486498689",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Group, Albania, Situation Report 4",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"imageCount": 44,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "486498689",
"label": "Report, Central Intelligence Group, Albania, Situation Report 4",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "486498689",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Group, Albania, Situation Report 4",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-001.tif",
"imageCount": 44,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486498689",
"naId": 486498689,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"productionDates": [
{
"day": 15,
"logicalDate": "1947-08-15",
"month": 8,
"year": 1947
}
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 22,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875496/875496-01-023.tif",
"mediaId": "3354fe4785c70e70",
"ocrText": "SECRE\nb. Yugoslavia\nBefore the Communist-directed rapprochement between the two coun-\ntries, Albania and Yugoslavia were not on friendly terms, the chief bone\nof contention being the Kosovo plain area of Yugoslavia, north and north-\neast of Albania. The Turks settled this district with Albanians following\nthe Turkish defeat of Serbian forces there at the end of the fourteenth\ncentury, and an estimated half million Albanians still remain. Albania,\nhowever, has now abandoned its claim to the area in return for Tito's\nfriendship and aid.\nAlbania and Yugoslavia have signed the following agreements:\n(1) an all-inclusive economic pact (see Section II): (2) a protocol on the\nresumption of border traffic between Yugoslavia and Albania; (3) a treaty\nof friendship and mutual assistance; (4) a civil aviation agreement; and\n(5) a maritime agreement. Secret military agreements also appear to have\nbeen concluded between the two countries.\nDespite the Hoxha regime's insistent protestations of Albanian in-\ndependence, these agreements (particularly the economic accord) would make\nthe incorporation of Albania as a Federated Republic of Yugoslavia little\nmore than a formality. The exact nature of future Yugoslav-Albanian rela-\ntions will depend upon the formation of a Balkan Federation. Until that\ntime, however, Albania will be allowed to preserve an appearance and even\na measure of independence in the hope that it can obtain membership in the\nUN.\nC. Greece\nFactors in Greek-Albanian relations are: Greek claims to northern\nEpirus (southern Albania); alleged Greek treatment of Chams; alleged Al-\nbanian help to Italians in Greek war; Greece's harboring of Albanian dis-\nsidents; and Albanian aid to Greek Communist guerrillas. An additional\nirritant is Albanian resentment over Greek ownership of the island of Corfu.\nGreece is still \"at war\" with Albania.\n(1) Epirus\nThe disputed territory of northern Epirus lies south of a\nline drawn from Valona on the Adriatic to Pogradec on Lake Ohrid. Its\ntotal population is about 290,000. The Greeks, citing ethnic, histori-\ncal and strategic factors, have asked for this area as \"a matter of\nsimple justice\" based on Greece's role in World War II. Ethnically,\ntheir claim does not appear justified, as it is based on the erroneous\nassumption that all Orthodox Christians in the area (variously esti-\nmated to number from 120,000 to 130,000) are Greeks. The League of\nNations inquiry commission, which visited the area in 1921-23, produced\n*\nSee footnote, p. II-2.\nIII-3\nSECRET."
}