ITALY’S LATEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19719, 9 December 1926, Page 7

ITALY’S LATEST

THE ALBANIAN TREATY RIGHT TO INTERFERE OBTAINING CONTROL IN BALKANS. INTEREST AROUSED IN EUROPE. By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. Received December 8. 7.15 p.m. GENEVA, Dec. 7. Diplomatic circles are agog over the League President, M. Ninchitch’s resignation from the Foreign Ministry of Jugo-Slavia, supposedly because he disapproved of the Cabinet’s policy in relation to new Italo-Albanian Treaty. The Jugo-Slavia Ministry has now resigned. M. Ninchitch’s view is believed to be based on the conviction that Italy has virtually achieved a Protectorate over Albania, in connection with which a German diplomat recently asserted that Britain had previously frustrated Italy’s attempt to claim and exercise the right to interfere in Albanian internal affairs. Some diplomats declare that Italy has gained her object in such a manner that Jugo-Slavia cannot appeal to the League. The Belgrade newspaper, “Politika,” says the treaty contains a secret military convention and Italian Naval privileges in Albania. The “Morning Post’s” diplomatic correspondent says that Jugo-Slavia has watched with increasing anxiety the privileges which Italy has recently been gaining in Albania, including concessions for road making and exploiting oil, and a large measure of bank control. The new treaty is almost certain to result in Jugo-Slavia seeking a strong point d’appui elsewhere, notably in the direction of France.

Other political writers are of opinion that France is unlikely to sit quietly by while Jugo-Slavia is humbled and Italy established firmly in the Balkans.