324 Chapter 3
Central Powers’ front, finally culminating in the awareness that an armistice for the
war-weary Central Powers was in the works. A dilemma emerged after the conclusion
of the conflict. While a new sentiment for self-determination was taking root in lead-
ers like US President Woodrow Wilson, several of the Allies had used the context of
war to occupy pieces of Albania. It was satisfaction of irredentist claims for several of
these states. Italy occupied most of Albania starting with a June 23, 1917, proclama-
tion of protectorate in the south of Albania; this satisfied strong irredentist claims that
had remained since the country’s formation. Yugoslavia wanted to keep some north-
ern stretches of Albania, including Kosovo. France had taken parts of Kosovo during
the course of the conflict and also occupied the important town of Korce.
The matter came up during the Paris Peace Conference. In January 1920, Britain,
France, and Greece decided to divide Albania among Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece.
Albania was naturally less than impressed with this proposal. While this was an
expedient considering the claims on Albania, the compromise was not consistent with
the new sentiment of self-determination that Wilson championed. Albania was saved
by American intervention; Wilson had also taken the important step of recognizing
Albania’s diplomatic presence in Washington. Albania’s acceptance into the League
of Nations seemed to end the partition plan.
The occupation persisted until the end of 1920. The Albanians forcibly expelled
Italy from all of Albania (except Suzan Island) in September 1920. The French
vacated Korce in May 1920. The only real winner was Yugoslavia, as they had begun
a thorough colonization of Kosovo.
Coding changes: End Date changed from November 5, 1918.
MID#1235
Dispute Number: 1235
Date(s): August 6, 1921 to November 17, 1921
Participants: 345 Yugoslavia/339 Albania
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: Although Albania had declared independence in 1912, its borders were
still not delimited by 1921. Albania requested League of Nations help in April and
June 1921 to help delimit its borders, but Greece and Yugoslavia, which had ambi-
tions for some of Albania’s claimed territory, hindered the League of Nations in
resolving the issue. There was a young Albanian government in Tirana, but the push
for Mirdite autonomy was strong. After the Mirdite chieftain was killed in a blood
feud, his nephew, Marka Gjoni, took over. Gjoni approached the Yugoslavs, who
were quite willing to jump at the chance of more influence in northern Albania.
Events did not unfold well for Gjoni or the Yugoslavians. Gjoni returned to Mirdite
with bags of money from Yugoslavia, but he found little popular support. Still, the
Yugoslavs established a Mirdite Republic in Gjoni’s name and supplied him with
arms, but most of his soldiers were Albanian or Yugoslav, not Mirdite. Gjoni’s rebel-
lion against the Albanian government was short-lived. His forces initially held the
upper hand against a contingent of government troops on July 25, but reinforcements