§ LORD SYDENHAM, on behalf of Lord LAMINGTON, rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether Albanian representatives will be present at the Peace Conference; and if not, what steps will be taken to secure for Albania the right of self-determination as solemnly agreed to by the United Kingdom and the United States on behalf of the smaller nations of Europe.
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, my noble friend Lord Lamington asked me to put this Question in his unavoidable absence. In 1913 the existence of an 320 independent Albanian State was, I believe for the first time, guaranteed by the Powers. In the secret Treaty of April 26, 1915, an "independent Mahomedan State of Albania" is referred to, and in the distribution of territory which was made under the terms of that Treaty Albania seems to have been deprived of her one good port, Valona, and also of valuable and rich territory in that neighbourhood.
§ The points that my noble friend wished to press upon the House were two. First, that Albania should be left independent under the ægis of a great Power; secondly, that the territories allotted to her should be sufficient for her free and progressive development. I hope an assurance will be given that the interests of the Albanians will receive the fullest consideration in the coming Peace Conference, and that such arrangements shall be made as will guarantee to them a free and prosperous national life.
§ THE ASSISTANT UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD NEWTON)My Lords, the question of the representation of the smaller Powers at the Peace Conference has not yet been decided by the Allied Governments, and it is considered to be quite impossible at the present moment to commit His Majesty's Government in any particular instances. As for the assurance asked for by the noble Lord, he may be perfectly well satisfied that the interests and the desires of the Albanian people will receive every consideration.