ALBANIA.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14975, 23 May 1914, Page 12

ALBANIA.

TRIBESMEN DISCONTENTED.

BItITISH 'OFFICERS TO THE RESCUE. (ibom ouß own conntaromvirt.J . LONDON, April 17. /The special correspondent of "The . • rimes" in Skutari, does not paint a very .-.-■ rosy picture of the conditions prevailing in Northern Albania, where < the 'present tranquility is not such as .to ■ inspire confidence in a peaceful future. Skutari claims to be the rightful capital of Albania, and it" is feared that the city is quiet on account of the presonco of the International garrison. How Great Britain is taking a part ' in the administration of the country is "explained-by the writer, who says:— "Tho personal influence of Colonel Phillips, commanding the international _ forces and temporarily Civil Governor of Skutari, fortunately extends beyond the.6i-mile radius from Skutari to which his authority was originally •limited. Every week chieftains from the surrounding tribes come in to* the town and ask for advice and help. Are admitted, in their gorgeously picturesque and variegated costumes, distinct for every clan, into the Goyer- . nor's study; they ' generally perform of their own accord the obeisance of handkissing, i and then the palaver begins, ~, varying from a dispute over the posses- : sion of a mule to/questions of' high policy.' But for Colonel Phillips's restraining inSuence tnere would un- , doubtedly have been trouble on the Montenegrin Frontier some weeks ago. The chiefs of Hdti and Gruda have, both been here again within the last .; three days to urge the,, impossibility of .their tribes' being incorporated with '■•' Montenegro, as decided by the Ambassadors'" Conference in London. They

have with great difficulty been pershaded to impress upon' their followers - tne absolute necessity of- not attacking v ;; Montenegro before the International Frontier Commission for North Albania, which is due to begin its work • in a' month's time, has definitely delimited the frontier. Since, however, • the Commission has only to mark out a • line already decided in principle, which places Hoti and Gruda in Montenegro, the arrival of Montenegrin . troops must follow, and will almost " inevitably provoke hostilities.". Certain tribesmen are discontented because - they find themselves cut off from their old market towns now assigned to Servia by the London Conference. Theiy complain to Colonel Phil- ■ v lips of their misery and havo been kopt quiet chiefly by the distribution of funds to relieve their terrible des- •' • titution. The funds allotted to Colonel Phillips for this purpose are now exhausted, and it is probable that frequent raids will bo made by these bel- . licosc mountaineers on. the villages of the plains over the frontier. Should ■-these raids provoke a Servian incursion, into Albania by wny of retaliation, as happened last autumn, Sbiternational complications might. be the result. . .

It isj>roposed now to" send an , Albanian Civil Governor to the Aleesio and Medua district, which has hitherto been administered by Captain S. G. Francis, with detachments of the West Yorkshire Regiment and of Austrian and Italian troops. This officer has adopted the same method of administration as Colonel Phillips, and has held periodical meetings with, the localchiefs. Captain Francis has had great difficulty over tho collection of taxes for the Ottoman debt, which Albanians do not. understand the necessity of paying now that the Turks have 'quitted Albania... The fish tax has always been "earmarked for this purpose, and the fish market has had to be surrounded by gendarmes before the tax could be -obtained. But Albanians have a proper respect for a~ man who knows now to enforce authority, and Captain Francis "has won the confidence of the natives. The results which the withdrawal of his personal influence may nave upon the district of Alessio should afford some indication of what may follow the withdrawal of the interna-, tional administration from Skutari.

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