著者

馬場 優

出版者

関西学院大学

雑誌

関学西洋史論集 (ISSN:03860043)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.31, pp.37-50, 2008-03

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Albania became independent from Ottoman Empire during the first Balkan War (October 1912-May 1913). This independence owed not only the independent movement of Albanian, but also the diplomacy of the European 6 Great Powers, in particular Austria-Hungary and Italy. They saw that they had the great interest in Albania. The Great Powers hold the "London Ambassadors Conference" on December 1912 to consult about the end of the Balkan War. The Conference decided in the name of the "Europe" that (1) Albania would be autonomous and neutral state and (2) Austria-Hungary and Italy should submit the general opinion about the Albanian organization to the Conference. For Austria-Hungary, Albania was the one of the important factor in the Balkan policy. In the end of the 19th Century we can find the same standpoint. In 1896 the policy-makers in Austria-Hungary decided that Albania should be autonomous state if man can not be maintain the territorial integration of Ottoman Empire in the Balkan, and they should be cooperate with Italy in order to take this policy. Albania was bulwark against the extension of Serbia and a wedge between Montenegro and Serbia. Austria-Hungary and Italy could accord the Albanian policy since 1897. So the attitude of the Austria-Hungary in 1912 was an extension of the traditional Balkan policy. The Autonomous Albania was for Austria-Hungary the bulwark against the expansion of Serbia, in particular advance to the Adriatic Sea. Austria-Hungary thought that Albania had to have the sovereignty in order to make Albania of independent state. Austria-Hungary and Italy started the consultation on the Albanian organization on December 1912 and finally they submitted to the Ambassador Conference on July 1913. The matter was; (1) Albania would be a principality whose prince was elected by the Great Powers. (2) The neutrality of Albania would be guaranteed by the 6 Great Powers. (3) The International Control Committee which consisted of 6 delegates of the Great Powers and 1 Albanian would work the civil and financial administration for 5 years. (4) The international gendarmerie would work the public order. Though the term of the action of the International Control Commission was changed to 10 years, this proposal was generally approved in the Ambassador Conference on 29th July 1913.