Memorandum dated November 12, 1918, of the Paris (civil and religious leadership) of Anësmal and Krajë, according to the villages, Megjurec, Leskovc, Kaliman, Krythë, Kllezen, Brajshë, Shas, Bukmirë, Selitë, Katerkolle, Milla e Eperme and Milla e Poshtme, Rashtisha, Dragina, Sukobina, Freskanjel, Shtoder, Lisna, Kravar, Ostros i Madh, Ostros i Vogel, Arbnesh, Skjeja, etc., sent to the foreign ministers of the USA, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
The memorandum is part of the file prepared by the Delegation of the Government of Albania, headed by Monsignor Luigj Bumçi and is attached to the general memorandum of the Bishop of Lezha, placed as always, with an exemplary dedication in the service of the national cause and the unification of the entire nation in one state.
The basic memorandum is dated 9 November 1919 and is found in The National Archives (Public Record Office) FO 608/42.
“ANNEX No. 1 (Copy)
To His Excellency
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
- WASHINGTON
- LONDON
- PARIS
- ROME
We, the undersigned, representatives of the villages listed below, belonging to the districts of Anamali and Kraia, have the honor to present the following petition to the kind attention of the Great Entente Powers.
During the London Conference, our villages, although populated and inhabited exclusively by Albanians, were severed from their motherland, Albania, and ceded, against their will, to Montenegro.
At one time, we had presented several appeals to the International Government and the Commission of Consuls of the Great Powers in Shkodra against this forced cession, but our rights, although fair and recognized by all, could not receive justice due to the complications arising from the general war.
But now that the Great Entente Powers, who, on several occasions, have solemnly declared that they are fighting for the freedom of small nationalities, are laying the foundations for a just and lasting peace based on these noble principles, our hopes are revived and, with full confidence that our wishes will be fulfilled, we humbly appeal to their followers in Les Prints, in the name of the sacred rights of Albania and based on the principle of self-determination of peoples, so that they may determine that our villages be attached to the Shkodra district of Albania, of which they are an integral part, not only for ethnographic and geographical reasons, but also because of their rural property and commercial relations.
Shkodra, Albania, November 12, 1918
(Signatures follow)”
Signatures
“We humbly address their suite, praying them, in the name of the sacred rights of Albania and on the basis of the principle of self-decision of peoples, that they may kindly arrange for our villages to be attached to the Soutari district of Albania, of which they are an integral part, not only for ethnographic and geographical reasons, but also because of their rural property and commercial relations.Scutari d’Albanie, November 12, 1918 (Signé)
Ibrahim Shkyrani, muhtar (mayor) of the village of Maghresh
Mustafa Hussain,
Çabir Omer,
Bayram Dani,
Hafiz Syleman, imam (priest) of the villages of
Ahmed Adomi, muhtar (mayor) of the villages of
Molla Kemadani, imam (priest) of the village of
Omer Yousouf, muhtar (mayor) of Chassi and Boukira
Rodjo Ahmeti,
Molla Hassan, imam (priest) of
Abdullah Hilli, muhtar (mayor) of the village of Illa and Baita
Tahir Ismaili,
Hassan Haji,
Genc Tohoba,
Ilhou Sadik,
Dan Ahmeti, muhtar (mayor) of Rachititsa
Molla Saljoza, imam (priest)
Yousouf Hassan, muhtar (mayor) of
Molla Yonus,
Ethem Hilli, muhtar (mayor) of Sukubina
Alouch Hassan, Frekagad”.
“Chaban Abdul, muhtar (mayor) of the village of Ch’oder
Hussein Bayran,
Djafor Ghiocchi,
Molla Mehmet, imam (priest)
Yousouf Madjouri, muhtar (mayor)
Hafi Hilli, imam (priest)
Rouchit Kardolli, muhtar (mayor)
Molla Osmani, imam (priest)
Eloz Hodja, muhtar (mayor)
Molla Ismail, imam (priest)
Mohamed Hoti, muhtar (mayor)
Molla Yousouf, imam (priest)
Hafiz Bey, imam (priest) of the villages of Mghurtoch & Leskovets
Molla Hassan, imam (priest) of Milla and Bofkon”
Balkan Academia 