ALBANIA.
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Many months of dispute on the Adriatic question have taught most of us the claims of Italy and Jugo-Slavia. Both of them have influential men to plead their respective causes, but how many of us have heard the cries of Albania ? In 1913 the Powers solemnly granted independence to Albania. The Albanians celebrated the occasion with great national re- joicings, and showed their gratitude during the war by fighting on. the side of the Allies, only to find themselves threatened with partition and complete loss of national independence. Tho Jugo-Slays during the war have shown their eagerness to pounce upon Scutari, the Greeks on Northern Epirus, and the Italians, who were promised Valoaa—Albania's chief port—as a bribe for help in the war, are waiting to accept a mandate for the remaining territory. Those who know the details of Albanian history cannot fall to sympathize with the little nation, bullied by the Turk, the Greek, the Serb, and the Powers alike. During the war Albania was completely run over by these nations, and her one hope of national integrity rested in peace. In spite of these immense difficulties, Albania still cherishes a determined national spirit. She has one language (with dialects corresponding to our English dialects), and although she has three religious creeds she is not in any way nationally divided by them. By the partition of Albania, in order to satisfy the desires of the strong nations, the Allies will be not only sowing the seed of more Balkan unrest, but violating one of their greatest principles—the rights of small nations. The Albanians will not give way. Are we to 'delete the noble principle which rallied us to the defence of Belgium ?
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