711.75/2–146: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 2—8:54 a.m.]
321. Pattern described by Jacobs in his 68, January 29 to Department is so familiar from Moscow standpoint that there can, in our opinion, be little doubt as to who is pulling strings in Albania. For this reason, I venture to suggest that if we intend at all to resist what appears to be a deliberate attempt to reduce effectiveness and prestige of our Mission in Albania, we act at once and with great energy and firmness disputing every detail of treatment which we find unacceptable and being prepared to back up our protests promptly and decisively with measures really disagreeable to Albanian regime.
Should other means of pressure fail, I do not think we should shrink even from prospect of withdrawing our Mission if it is not given possibility to operate effectively and if the treatment accorded it is markedly discourteous.
These recommendations may seem extreme but I can assure Department that there are no people anywhere more alive and sensitive to questions of “face” than precisely that type of Russian who is working behind the scenes in Albania. If we react quickly and with vigor, these persons may find themselves subject to criticism by their own superiors for having acted impulsively and gone too far. And if we then continue to make it evident that every move against us will be vigorously countered, we will probably get reasonably good treatment in the end. But if we start by acquiescing in petty annoyances, either because they seem too petty to discuss or because we wish to avoid unpleasantness, we may rest assured that the encroachments [Page 4] will be progressive and that final result can only be to render our mission entirely ineffective.
Sent Dept 321, repeated Caserta 5 and Tirana unnumbered.