Albania was admitted as a member of the League of Nations (1920–1945), an international organization created by the victorious powers of World War I with the stated aim of ensuring peace and cooperation among states. It included 44 countries worldwide, with its headquarters established in Geneva, Switzerland. The Albanian government emerging from the Congress of Lushnjë submitted a request to the League of Nations in the autumn of 1920 for Albania’s admission as a member. After overcoming opposition from Italy and neighboring Balkan states, Albania was accepted as a member of the League of Nations in 1920. This strengthened the international position of the newly reborn Albanian state. Admission was a recognition of the situation created in Albania by the liberation struggle of the Albanian people, which opposed the implementation of the secret Treaty of London of 1915, as well as plans for further division of Albanian lands at the Peace Conference of 1919–1920. The illusions held by many patriots about the League of Nations, including Fan Noli, were not realized. In many cases, the League of Nations remained silent on various interventions by foreign powers in Albania’s internal affairs. Contrary to its status, the League of Nations disregarded the complaint of Fan Noli’s government regarding the intervention of Yugoslav troops in December 1924. Its most serious violation occurred in April 1939 when it took no action against, and did not condemn, Italy’s aggression against Albania. The League of Nations effectively ceased to operate with the onset of World War II, and formally dissolved upon its conclusion.Top of Form (In the photo: Fan Noli entering the headquarters of the League of Nations, Geneva 1924.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1509.
Photo: © Xhoxhi L., personal archive.
Graphic processing: AHCF
