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Finland (GULF OF a period of quiet)

GULF OF a period of quiet. Women were given the suffrage and other radical changes in the government were made. The government of Russia, however, continued hostile to the self-rule of Finland, and in 1910 a law was passed stipulating that the Russian Duma and the Imperial Council had sole power in matters affecting Russia and Finland together. This practically deprived Finland of home rule. On July 20, 1917, the Diet declared the independence of the country. The Russian Provisional Government in August of the same year ordered the dissolution of the Diet and the summoning of a new one to meet on November 1. Shortly after the meeting of the Diet the Kerensky government fell and on Dec. 9, 1917, the country was proclaimed an independent republic. There followed a period of civil war between the Red Guards (Bolsheviki) and the White Guards (pro- Germans). The Finnish authorities seized the Red Guards and executed many of them. Disturbances continued until the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty between Germany and the Bolshevik Government. ent. Four days later Germany signed a treaty with Finland Fin and German troops were sent into Finland. There was a strong attempt to establish a monarchy, but this was opposed by the people. The country remained under the practical domination of Germany during 1918. General Mannerheim, the organizer of the Finnish White Guard became Regent in December of that year. He used severe measures in ridding the country of Bolshevists and conditions gradually turned to a liberal policy. Professor Staahlberg was elected president of the republic, defeating General Mannerheim on July 5, 1919. A constitution was formulated and the republic was established on a firm basis. In 1920 and 1921 a controversy was carried on between Sweden and Finland as to the disposition of the Aland Islands. A plebiscite was held according to the conditions set down by the Peace Conference and it was maintained by Sweden that this indicated an overwhelming majority in favor of Swedish sovereignty. Finland declared, however, that the islands had been administered as a part of the Finnish province for more than a century and that the majority of them lay nearer the Finnish coast than to the Swedish coast. A commission was appointed by the Council of the League of Nations to make inquiries and submit recommendations as a basis for peaceful settlement.