A united front is the only thing that saves Albania from foreign rule

Before the beginning of the Peace Conference in Paris (1918), the two champions of Albanian independence, Aubrey Herbert and Edith Durham, try to reconcile the divided Albanians and form a delegation for the conference. Albanian personalities have big problems. They don't talk to each other, they accuse each other of treason and they are not aware of the serious situation in which their country finds itself. In this letter, which Durham sends to Herbert, the man who was behind the organization of the delegation, we see some serious problems that the naivety of Albanian personalities has produced. From this letter it can be seen that even today it is not better than then.

From: Edith Durham (letter to Aubrey Herbert, 1918)
Translated and prepared by: Daut Dauti

Dear Colonel Herbert,

it is very difficult to know how to fill these people's mind. I think the less you write to IK [Ismail Qemali] the better as you never know how they will twist and misquote your statements. If you meet I.K in Paris and discuss these matters with him, it will be much better.

What we want to understand, I think, is this: Why has this rift been introduced? What is it about? As far as I have been able to learn from Dakot (with whom the rift started) it is only about false accusations that have been made against Mehmet [Konica]. Of course, strictly speaking, this should remain between us.

Mrs. D. [Dako] has written to me (in response to my strong plea that they should not be separated) – that they knew all about Mehmet and knew that he was involved in a plot to sell the south to Greece of Albania. She also told me that the conversation with Mr. Woods has confirmed his suspicions about Mehmet's ability. I know that Woods is very concerned with M. for saying that it is very likely that neither side will win the fight and that it will end in a draw that will tire both sides. He [Woods] was also very concerned about Mrs. Aubrey whom he considered anti-English. She was definitely a bad influence. What scares me is that he has talked a lot about Dakota. You probably know that Vatra gave him a grand reception, in which the Dakots and their party refused to attend. Now, as far as I can tell from the papers, the Dacoits proclaim him the champion of their cause.

I believe he felt he had blown it as he said he would write to me and let me know the situation, but I have not received a single line from him. I am afraid that he has planted the idea that because of Mrs. A: Mehmeti is anti-ally and that he has infected Dakot with this.

If you can find out from Ismail what the basis of this mess is, we might be able to do something. My wish is that we send Dako as a delegate. He is educated enough to be useful, and if he gets out of his little circle, he will surely be able to admit how microscopic a part Albania plays here in the minds of the people, and how every dissension destroys them. the likelihood. He sees things from a rather false perspective.

With regard to your letter, I must end it on the line I have assigned and make the last sentence even more powerful: "A united front is the only thing that can save your country from foreign rule" or something. with this effect. The only thing we can do is try to scare them into joining. And, they greatly overestimate their military capabilities. They still believe in "gangs" and medieval methods. Until today a small army would crush most of them, all their ammunition and food supply and wipe them out every time with a few machine guns and they would surrender before they starved to death. Lichnowsky's "announcements" have caused us incalculable damage. Wherever we have read young people are convinced that the formation of Albania is a German conspiracy and that it caused the war. Mavrogordata has written an article in which he states that, if the Albanians were not encouraged by Austria, they would never have desired independence and that they would be easily "assimilated" by Greece.

And, recently, some people have begged me not to waste any more time on them [Albanians] since everyone agrees with Lichnowsky.

If you can, ask Ismail to find out what all this talk is about. And, try to convince him that the accusations against M, if he repeats them as I mentioned, are bullshit.

Sincerely yours,

Edith Durham.