11 DECEMBER 1926, Page 2

The Treaty of Tirana between Italy and Albania is taken

very seriously in Yugoslavia. It led to the resignation of Dr. Nintchitch, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Monday night, and the next day the whole Cabinet resigned. It is feared, of course, that Italy has designs on the independence of Albania. France is probably trying to reassert her influence over the Little Entente in opposition to Italy. It would not be right to say, however, that the fall of the Cabinet was entirely due to the Tirana Treaty. The position of the Cabinet had for a long time been made almost impossible by the manoeuvres of the Raditcli wing. The King has asked the outgoing Prime Minister, M. Ouzminovitch, to form a new Coalition Ministry on the ground that- Italian policy makes this moment very inopportune for a dissolution.. It is noticeable that Greece regards the Tirana Treaty with comparative unconcern, no doubt being reconciled to any ambitions that may be reasonably attributed to Italy. All these manoeuvres for the control of 'the Balkans deserve careful and anxious watching.