[From The London Times, Oct. 30, 1914.]
ROME, Oct. 30.
The Italian occupation of the rocky and desolate islet of Saseno
which, from a strategic point of view, completely dominates the sea
approaches to Avlona, is a logical consequence of the occupation of
that town for the purpose of establishing a hospital and maintaining
order. The islet itself was for some months in 1913 and 1914 a bone
of contention between the Italians, who insisted on obtaining it for
the Principality of Albania, and the Greeks, who were equally anxious
to retain it in their own possession. With Saseno under the control of
a foreign power, the possessor of Avlona could never make the town
into a place of arms.
Saseno, as one of the Ionian Islands, became a British protectorate in
virtue of the Treaty of Paris of Nov. 5, 1815, but was given to Greece
by the Treaty of London of March 29, 1864. The Ambassadors' Conference
decided in the Autumn of last year that it was illogical to allow the
chief harbor of Albania to be dominated by the territory of a foreign
power, and by the Protocol of Florence, Dec. 19, 1913, it was
definitely included in Albania. This decision was ratified by
legislative enactment in Greece, to which effect was given by King
Constantine's proclamation of June 13, 1914, shortly after which the
Hellenic garrison was withdrawn. During the Greek régime, the island,
being neutralized by the Treaty of 1864, was quite unimportant, and at
one time the Turks by arrangement with the Hellenic Government,
maintained a lighthouse there.