THE SERBIAN INVASION OF ALBANIA. [To THE EDITOR OF THIS
" SPECTATOR.")
Ste,—On August 14th the following telegram was sent to Mr. Lloyd George from Paris by Mr. M. Konitza, the representative of the Albanian Government :— " In spite of the assurances that the Albanian Government has always given to the Jugo-Slav Government of its desire to live in peace with Jugo-Slavia, the " Serbian Army on August 10th suddenly invaded Albanian territory through regions of Scutari and Dibra. The invading army is advancing towards the interior of the country, bombarding towns and villages, destroying everything on its passage, and terrorizing the population. Judging from the systematic extermination of the Albanians in the districts annexed by Serbia, and the considerable forces and artillery in action, it becomes evident that this invasion is premeditated, and aims at the suppression of the Albanian State and the extermination of our race. The Albanian people in deadly despair appeal to the justice and rectitude of His Britannic Majesty to stop this wanton egres- sion and save them from catastrophe.—KONITZA."
Danger is often greatest when it is unseen and unknown, and until now little has been said or published of the new war which Serbia is undertaking in the Balkans. It was the murder of the Arch-Duke Ferdinand which involved all Europe in war, and it is of great importance that publicity should be given to present events in the Balkan& A few weeks ago the Italians voluntarily sacrificed their claims to Albania. This was no small sacrifice. They evacuated the country, bequeathing to it the same hope of freedom for which Italy had fought so stubbornly in the past. No sooner had the Italians left Valona than the Serbian Army attacked Albania from the north and from the west. The attack is upon the Catholic Highlanders of the Clementi to the north- west of Scutari and upon the western frontier of Dibra. A glance at the map is sufficient to show that the advance of the Serbian army is according to plan. A frontier incident in the Balkans gives rise to local frontier reprisals, but this is a concerted attack by a well-armed country upon an ill-armed and inoffensive neighbour. It appears probable that ' the divided Serbian Government has little power, and that it is the military authorities who have entered upon a war of conquest.
It was, however, in this country at the Ambassadors' Con- ference of 1913 that Albania was recognized as a European State, and it is not possible for the Entente to stand by and acquiesce in massacres at our very doors. It was for the sanctity of treaties, for the neutrality of Belgium and the freedom of Serbia, that the war was fought. Tho Serbs have been a gallant Ally during the war, and as such can lay claim to indulgence for mistakes; but the title of an Ally of Great Britain does not carry with it the right to commit
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