F ~ aROM political and international points of view the importance of Albania is obvious from the news of the day. Albania forms the eastern gateway to the Balkans, and commands the entrance to the Adriatic Sea. This location lays upon Albania a strategically very important place among the Balkan States; in addition, the trade, as well as the position of Albania, makes the state of greatest interest to Italy. Albania is not so large as New Hampshire and Vermont together; its area is about equal to that of Denmark ( 11,600 square miles). The economic situation of the country in its present stage is backward and difficult.