After the Declaration of Independence, Ismail Qemali together with the Albanian delegation visited London to lobby on the future of the Albanian borders, located in the famous hotel of the time, Hotel Cecil. There, Ismail Bey caused a strong diplomatic curiosity when he was asked by an American correspondent about the possibility of an American king for the newly declared independent country, writes researcher Auron Tare
"If former President Roosevelt (Teddy Roosevelt) is looking for the Crown of Albania, we would put him at the top of the list of candidates. I would personally vote for him. Roosevelt is one of the most extraordinary people in the world today at a much higher level than an ordinary prince", Ismail Bey would declare to the American correspondent in London.
According to researcher Tare, as a seasoned diplomat, apparently in order not to create tensions with English diplomacy, Ismail Qemali added with a smile:
"I consider Mr. Roosevelt as a very capable man, but not suitable for Albania. I can suggest that Mr. Asquith (prime minister of Great Britain) or Pier Pont Morgan's son; could be our kings. They are all capable men, but for us it is a serious matter and it takes time to be considered".