HC Deb 15 April 1946 vol 421 cc368-9W
Mr. J. Silverman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons for the severance of diplomatic relations with Albania.

Mr. McNeil:

On 10th November, 1945, His Majesty's Government, having first received assurances regarding free elections and the establishment of a democratic Government, agreed to recognise the Albanian Government and to exchange diplomatic representatives. A British diplomatic representative was accordingly nominated. However, before he could take up his appointment the attitude of the Albanian authorities towards His Majesty's Government appeared to change. Many obstacles were placed in the way of the work of the British Military Mission in Albania; movements within the country of the members of the Mission were greatly restricted and were recently confined to the capital itself; a British War Graves Mission, engaged in discovering and concentrating the graves of British servicemen who fell during the war in Albania, was expelled before its work was completed; and the Albanian Government refused a visa to an official on the staff of the British Minister Designate who for a considerable period had rendered excellent service to Albania as a liaison officer with the Albanian partisans.

In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government doubted whether the Albanian Government were any longer anxious to re-establish diplomatic relations, and sought assurances from the Albanian Government before authorising His Majesty's Minister Designate to proceed to his post. The Albanian Government's reply was not satisfactory and His Majesty's Government have therefore felt obliged to inform the Albanian Government that they do not feel able to authorise His Majesty's Minister Designate to proceed to his post in present circumstances, and that they will not be able to agree to receive an Albanian Representative in London. In informing the Albanian Government of their decision, His Majesty's Government have added that they would be prepared to reconsider the matter should the Albanian Government have any fresh proposals to make to meet His Majesty's Government's legitimate request for assurances.