Startimi Jugosllav dhe Italian në Konferencën e Paqes ndaj Çështjes Shqiptare (janar-mars 1919)
The Yugoslav and Italian Initial Position Towards the Albanian Cause in January-March 1919, in the Peace Conference

Summary/Abstract: Even though Albania was not partner of any country, during the First World War, it found itself in a very difficult situation at the Peace Conference (1919-1920), which was about to jeopardize the country's existence. It was out of discussion that the injustices of a not so far past had any chance to be erased. These injustices were committed lately, at the Conference of Ambassadors in London (1912-1913) and further others written in the Secret Treaty of London (26th of April 1915) signed by the Antanta Powers and Italy, in order to convince the latter to join the group, risking to extinguish the fragile Albanian state created just a few years prior. From the fulfilment of this Treaty, and from other similar ones, that could get the approval of the "Great Four" (G. Clemanceau, L. George, W. Wilson, V. Orlando), benefitted the Albanian neighbours, Greece and the State of Serbs Croats and Slovenians (Yugoslavia) and of course Italy. No matter how contrary the circumstances, Albanians had a little luck. The lack of unity inside the Yugoslav delegation, respectively the different interests of the Prime Minister, Nicola Pashic, leader of the delegation at the Conference and of the Foreign Minister, the Croatian, Ante Trumbic, came to surface when the discussion was if rather to insist about Shkodra or Rijeka. On the other hand, the primary goal of the Yugoslavs was to see Italy on the west coast of Otranto, that is why they preferred to preserve in theory Albania's independence. Also, Italy's delegation had fluctuations in the presentation of its demands during the first months of the Conference, January-March 1919. Later on, there were divergences between the USA on one side and the Great Britain and France on the other, on the matters of the Albanian sovereignty and borders. All the dysfunctions above, were in favor of the Albanians, so that they could earn some more time and gather all their forces to fight and avoid the worst case scenario concerning the future of the country and of the state. Supported by bibliographic material and documents published through the years, also reinforced with the latest information, this article tries to enlight through a different approach and perspective the attitudes of Yugoslavia and Italy towards the Albanian cause in the first months of the Conference (January-March 1919). These attitudes confirm from the beginning that the options chosen by our neighbours, also rivals between them in the domination of the South-Eastern Adriatic coast and of the North-Eastern Ioanian coast, in all the cases, never took into consideration the interests of Albania and of the Albanians.

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