“Under the instructions of King Zog, the people who will be elected by the parties, for the political committee, must be competent, except for Mit’hat Frashër, who is…”/ Memoirs of Colonel Hysen Selman

By Hysen Selmani

Part thirty five

Memorie.al/ European and American press have often addressed the subject of the memories of the Albanian King, Zogu i-r, which he wrote and dictated during his exile from Albania. Considering the notes and syntheses that his assistant, Colonel Hysen Selmani, compiled over the years in his service, – always, next to the King of the Albanians, both at home and in exile, these notes, more or less with parts of detached, without strictly following the usual criteria of memoirs, and without having the definite, final form of an edition, they are prepared by Hysen Selmani himself, who has dedicated most of his life, as in Albania, as well as during the exile, serving the First Zog, the King of the Albanians.

                                                 Continues from last issue

Rome, September 11, 1947

About this day, the adjutant remembers that: As soon as I arrived in Rome, I received a telegram from Salih Muftia and Faik Quku. With which they tell me that tonight they arrested Hasan Agë Senica and Kurtish Rome and Adem Dushi. These were the people in charge of the Bosnian emigration and it is not known where they sent them. Try to save them if possible, they told the adjutant in the letter. “This shocked us very badly and Colonel Selmani immediately took Ferid Dervish and Stefon Stilva to the American Embassy in Rome”, writes Hysein Selmani. The police service of the camps was immediately called there and they were asked. After many phone calls, within an hour, they found them passing through Trieste and stopped them. They assured us that, within this night, the people will be surrendered in the Reggio-Emilio camp. “Don’t worry, you saved them,” American sources told the adjutant. I thanked the Ambassador and went to the Hotel. There I took Salih Mufti and Faik Quku on the phone and told you that we found them, it is written in the memories – and overnight, they will come to the camp and they escaped.

Rome, September 16, 1947

Colonel Husein Selmani, gathered on September 16, 1947, at 10 o’clock in the morning, in the salons of the “D’Gasper” Hotel, the first meeting that had been discussed, on August 24, 1947. Before the camps were visited and in the meeting were:

1. Mehdi Frashëri
2. Removes Delvina
3. Dhimiter Berati
4. Qemal Yusufati
5. Ferid Dervishi
6. Ragip Frashëri
7. Sotir Avrami
8. Captain Gjonmarkaj
9. Ismail Verlaci
10. Ernest Colici
11. Tahir Kolgjini
12. Ekrem Vlona
13. Nexhmedin Qoralliu
14. Ago Agaj
15. Ali Kalcyra
16. Koço Muka
17. Ismail Sefa
18. Hiqmet Meço
19. Ekrem Telhai
20. Nexhat Peshkopia
21. Maz’har Pustina

Colonel Husein Selmani, as he greeted them, explained in detail about the visits he had to Barleta Camps, and to Reggio-Emilio. He told everyone what they talked about and the general satisfaction that was felt by everyone. Especially it was that of Mit’hat Frashëri.

After that, Colonel Selmani briefly pointed out about the past situation, in a few words: “Efforts around the Second World War, one day all will be seen, what was done by the High State Institute and those Albanian patriots who have had the opportunity to serve the nation, to save it from these grievances”.

“Even today,” he said, “anyone needs to understand the liberation of the Motherland. It is not claimed, nor does it depend entirely on the efforts and services that can be done by the Albanians. But, on the other hand, that the efforts to to find sincere friends, in supporting cases, we must all do our best and sacrifice everything. This, being united with a program and with certain directives. Only such behavior, writes the adjutant – can I praise the Albanians before history and exonerate them from the side of the nation. To achieve this goal, the united Albanians must be in cooperation and in close and fraternal agreement. And especially with the neighboring countries, the Greeks and the Yugoslavs on the run.

Having clarified a problem, in terms of an agreement with our neighbors here, we should take a look at what has been done on our side, to reach an agreement and cooperation for a common front with the Greeks. “As you may know, it is written in the memoirs – that when Greece was attacked, on December 28, 1940, Zogu I, King of the Albanians, addressed the King and the Greek Government, that he was ready to go to Greece, to form the Albanian legions, to fight side by side, with the Greeks, this offer from the King of the Albanians, remained unanswered by Greece, in 1943-’44, the King of the Albanians again asked to go to Albania, with of the Allies and there to fight the occupier, but was hindered by the neighbors.

During the Italo-Greek war, the Albanians sabotaged the Italian army, the Albanian soldiers taken by force escaped in large numbers to Greece. Others, disarmed, were put in the concentration field by the Italians. This strong sabotage, the fascist Italian Government, has called one of the main facts of the loss of its war with Greece, that obstacles appeared everywhere.

It can be said with regret that, every act and desire shown by the Albanians to lay the foundations of a sincere friendship, until today has not found any meritorious reception by the Greeks. However, we have always been ready to cooperate in the interests of Albania and Greece, based on sincere friendship. And, it is necessary for both parties, which are related to the common political and economic interests and which have a rapprochement more than any other nation, in the Balkan Peninsula.

We are still ready to extend our hand to you, for a relationship of friendship, sincere and strong, but with a condition that all their vain claims disappear. Let’s go back to the years 1922-’39, when between the two nations, all the past was forgotten and a friendship and love, so heartfelt, began between the two friendly peoples. And the Albanians, in order to start laying the foundation of a friendship, we point out one point: that the Greeks, if they have and nurture the desire for a friendship, must show that they respect the independence, territorial integrity and freedom of the Albanian Nation.

In every agreement that Albanians in emigration can enter into, in order to have the effect of a treaty and an international act, they must take into account the legality of the competences and powers vested in an agreement. Agreements have their own power when they are bilateral and have no value when they are made by representatives of a side that does not have the prerogatives to conclude an agreement. At this point, Albanians should pay close attention to the fact that this essential condition for the effect of an agreement should always be taken into account and it should be known that an agreement without legal conditions is not only worthless, but can to have irreparable dangers.

Albanians in exile do not lack the means to represent their representatives, for the rights of any agreement, for the good of the nation. Because, as is known, Zog I, King of the Albanians, did not abdicate. He was appointed by the last Parliament, turned into an Assembly, to exercise even outside Albania, in the interest of the Albanian Nation, all the prerogatives given to him by the national statute. Something which is also known in some countries has its diplomatic representatives. There is not the slightest doubt that the King of the Albanians, for the good of the Motherland, has been and will be ready to use the prerogatives and powers that the statute has vested in him, to save the Motherland and to free the nation. Together with you, friends of Albania”.

After that, Mehdi Frashëri said: “As we see that there is no objection, then it would be good to appoint the appropriate element for the committee, which will be taken for the regulation of immigration and their distribution, in the countries accepted by Arab friends. In this way, those who would participate were appointed. Where they were missing, were Mit’hat Frashëri and Sali Muftia, but they had accepted”.

Rome, September 17, 1947

This is how the adjutant writes about this day. Hiqmet Delvina took the floor, who pointed out that: “The emigration committee takes the place of a political committee, to give all their contribution and sacrifices to the high interests of the Motherland. Of course, under according to the instruction of His Highness, King Zog, the persons who will be elected by the parties must be competent for the task entrusted to them, except for Mit’hat Frashër. He is marked directly, by the wish of King Zog, as the chairman of this committee”.

After Hiqmet Delvina’s conversation, they began to give the names assigned by the various groups that the parties had chosen with their votes:

Immigration Committee

1. Mit’hat Frashëri, Chairman of the Committee
2. Salih Muftija, Member of the Committee
3. Ernest Koliqi, Member of the Committee
4. Ali Kelcyra, Member of the Committee
5. Koço Muka, Member of the Committee
6. Qemal Yusufati, Member of the Committee
7. Ragip Frashëri, Member of the Committee
8. Vasil Andoni, Secretary of the Committee

This was the committee, chosen from different groups. Except for Mit’hat Frasher, who was assigned by the Zog King’s wish? They had their center in Alexandria, Egypt. And, of course, they would also visit other countries, such as Jordan and Syria, for the installation of emigration. This Committee, in fact, would function among those countries that still recognized Albanian Royal Albania and not communism. There was also the place where there was a Government in emigration. In those countries, which did not recognize it as a government, they recognized it as a political committee, but it protected the rights of every event of Albania.

Funding, by the way, falls entirely on King Zog, from his own money. Therefore, they would apply for a loan. And, as far as the Albanian colonies are concerned, this is not realized for now, because they are not in that enthusiasm, as in 1939-’40, times have changed, continues the adjutant. There are hopes that with the Arab States, a loan of nearly 2 million pounds can be found. This much, some time passes and a lot of work is carried out there and there is propaganda also in Asian countries, for the benefit of this committee. This was the decision that was taken in Rome, according to the message of His Majesty, King Zog I, and where everyone was satisfied with this activity, in the interests of Albania.

Rome, September 17, 1947

Colonel Husein Selmani, on this date, at 10 am, accompanied by Dr. Qemal Jusufati and Ferid Dervishit, went to the Italian Foreign Ministry. There, there was a meeting with Count Xoppi, since Sforca was not in Rome. With the Count, he talked about the Albanian emigration, as some things were circulating, and he asked for a guarantee from the Italian government, that no injustice would be done to you. The idea was, that the emigrants, within a short time, would generally be drawn to the Arab States.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Xoppi, answered with satisfaction: “Don’t have any doubts, lest something bad happen, as they say, lest they be handed over to the communists, that from today, they will we offer our services, that in case such a thing is dictated, we, as you know, can no longer oppose the Anglo-Americans. I only assure you, without suffering any evil, we will put them on a steamer and directly we send them to Alexandria, and for that, are calm.” In particular, he stood up and shook my hand and said: “We are ashamed, before His Majesty, King Zog, that there is a permit that cannot be taken away from us, fascism put this stain on the Italian people, against the friendly and generous people, Albanian. Humbly, I present my highest tributes”. When we finished these words, we went out, he escorted us downstairs.

When we left Palacio Kixhi, I went to see General De Antonio, the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Gendarmerie. I thanked him very much, because he had left a major at my disposal, everywhere in the visits I made to the camps for 10 days in a row. He welcomed us very well, and told us that; you had a great time with your compatriots. “We have felt a pleasure and increased morale”, – he told me – and have you stayed here for a day”.

“No, – I told him – I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Why so soon,” he told me and begged me, as a personal friend, that tonight we will have dinner together. Although, I insisted, saying that I had about 15 Albanian people for dinner and, I beg your pardon, he insisted on me, so that I was forced to stop going for a day and I told him; good’. That’s how we parted. When after two hours, together with General Galin, he comes to the Hotel to return the visit. But when he came there, he found more than 30 people, from the priority of immigration. Yes, I took it and entered it with a special salon. There I presented him with Mehdi Frashëri, Captain Gjon Markagjoni and Dhimitër Berati, and others. They, after drinking coffee and we had a conversation of old jokes, we went out and went.

Okay, at 8 o’clock in the evening, General Galicio Gali comes with the whole car and took us. There I was, Dr. Qemali, Ferid Dervishi and Omer Fortuzi. We went where a restaurant above the Vatican had booked us, I don’t remember the name. We stayed there until 1 a.m. and were very satisfied. They sent us to the Hotel themselves, I asked you that tomorrow, I was leaving. “But when I get the chance to come again, we will spend a pleasant night, like this night. Or, if you happen to have a chance in Alexandria, with us, you have your home.” So, we got along. With kind words, assuring me that, for anything, you are at our disposal, etc., we parted.

Rome, September 18, 1947

On September 18, 1947, I had assembled the entire Council, which had studied and decided on the regulation of emigration. They were: 1 – Mehdi Frashëri, 2 – Hiqmet Delvina, 3 – Dhimitër Berati, 4 – Captain Gjon Markagjoni, 5 – Ismail Verlaci, 6 – Ernest Koliqi, 7 – Ekrem Vlona, 8 – Tahir Kolgjini, 9 – Dr. Kemal Jusufati, 10 – Ferid Dervishi, 11 – Sotir Avrami, 12 – Ali Këlcyra, 13 – Koço Muka, 14 – Ragip Frashëri and others. When we were talking and there were evenings like these and many others, I would have them for dinner. Just at this time, I receive an urgent telegram from Alexandria, where they inform me that, due to some very urgent interests, I must immediately return to Alexandria. And, in case you’re not done, we could go again. “But today you leave here, ZOG I,” His Highness informed him.

“This telegram, continues the adjutant, – worried us, not that there was anything related to immigration, but of course, there are other things. With laughter, we continued the conversation, and I told you that now, we will eat lunch together. I sent Omer Fortuz immediately, to get the ticket, so that after we finished lunch, I would leave immediately. Then, I replied to the telegram, that: According to the order, this afternoon, I am leaving for Alexandria. I hope to be in Alexandria the day after tomorrow and the telegram; I gave it to Fortuzi, to give it to him immediately. I added that all the affairs here have ended for the best.

On September 18, 1947, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I left together with Ferid Dervish and Omer Fortuzi, by car for Naples. Immediately there, I entered the steamer ‘Argentina’, which was going to leave immediately, because the planes could not land in Alexandria. So, as I parted with Ferdi Dervish and Omer Fortuzi, the steamer left for Alexandria. I was still greeting Ferid and Fortuzi, on the terrace of the steamer, when I sat down to go to my cabin. Suddenly, the captain of the steamer comes to me and says:

“Please, two Albanians have entered here secretly. They are on a hidden steamer, without a ticket and without a visa. They have no documents. They have declared that Colonel Husein Beg Selmani knows us and we are going to Alexandria with him. We, We have taken these into notice, to hand them over to the Messina Gendarmerie. We have informed them that they will come with a motorboat to take them.” I wondered who these people would be. I immediately told you: “Bring them to me, let me see who these two Albanians are. Aren’t they communists, oh who…”?! When they were brought to me, they were; Xelal Beg Bushati from Shkodra and Malosh Kosova. I immediately took them by the throat and sat them down. The captain of the steamer was surprised. Then I also sat down the captain of the steamer and said: “So you, where are you coming from”?! They told me that: “We no longer had a place or a livelihood in Italy. Therefore, we decided to come to Egypt, taking advantage of your master.”

“Yes, well. Do you have any documents, – I asked them”?

“We have nothing, neither document nor ticket, – they told me”. “No, – I told you – as for the ticket, it is not necessary, because I pay for the steamer. So I begged the commander of the steamer that no action is taken against them. These are my close friends, and they are family Good luck to Albania, I am their guarantor and I paid for your tickets”. I kept them with me, until Alexander and the commander; he was a very good man, who accepted my request to keep them”.

Alexander, September 23, 1947

On September 23, 1947, in the morning, I arrived at the Port of Alexandria. There I was received by the Minister of the Royal Court, Sotir Martin, Chamberlain Kemal Mesare, Gaqo Goga, captains, Zenel Shehi and Halil Sufa, as well as by captain Shevki Egiptiani, who was in the service of the Albanian Royal Palace. There, after greeting them, I got off the steamer. I was also accompanied by the commander of the steamer. At this time, I took Xhelal Beg Bushati and Malush Kosovan with me and we got into the car and went directly to the Palace, to King Zog. There, as I presented myself to the King and the Queen and the Princesses, after a short conversation, I explained the case of Xhelal Beg Bushati and Malush Kosova. King Zog carefully said to me: “Yes, son Sulçe Begut”. “As you order, – I told him. Oh, how good, you have become a colonel, – said the King. Now bring them here to me, so I can ask them.”

I immediately took them and presented them to the King, who shook his hand and sat them down, ordered coffee and asked them, above all. He ordered Colonel Selman to arrange them well in a pension hotel and told you that, whenever you want, they could come here, they were like at home. On the other hand, he specifically ordered the colonel to arrange his passports and any other documents. And when they got up and went out, they took leave and kissed the King’s hand. But the King stopped him and told the colonel: to call the Queen and Prince Leka and pray with them. That he is the son of Sulçe Beg.

Immediately, the Queen and the Crown Prince, Leka, arrived. There, they were surprised when they saw that the Prince was very grown up and burst into tears. They kissed the Queen’s hand, but because of longing, they did not speak, and so they took leave and went out. The king gave Colonel Selman 10 Egyptian liras to give to you, so that they could be used for expenses. I distributed 10 lira to Xhelal Beg and 10 Malush to Kosova. Afterwards, he sent them to the “Bourivazhe” Hotel, to sleep and eat as guests of King Zog. They enjoyed themselves so much that they didn’t know how to express themselves.

After Colonel Selmani arranged your passports and all the documents, they wanted to go to Syria because, Sheuket Sulejmanin, they had his and he had promised you many things. “When they told me that they wanted to go as soon as possible, even Colonel Selmani, Malosh Kosovan wanted to stop him, as a chef in the Palace. Because he was very good as a cook. That he had the best restaurants in Durrës But, he could not stay, because he had given his word by going to Syri, Damasco”. After 10 days, in Alexandria, Colonel Selmani, according to the King’s order, gave you the steamer tickets with the company “Farros” for Beirut. He also gave them some money to take with them, and he himself sent them and put them on the steamer, and so they left for Syria. Memorie.al

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