RUSSIA AND FINLAND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 819, 17 May 1910, Page 5

RUSSIA AND FINLAND.

FOREIGN PROTESTS. "INADMISSIBLE 'INTERFERENCE." By Tcleeraph—Press Association-Oopyrieht St. Petersburg, May 15. With regard to tho Russian policy in Finland, a hundred members belonging to the Right, the Octobrist, and Nationalist Parties have petitioned tho President of the Duma (M. Hominkoff) to return the improper requests made by the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, and the Belgian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, as inadmissible interference. , ! AUTONOMY REDUCED TO AN EMPTY PHRASE, The Bill, according to tho St. Petersburg correspondent of "The Times," reduces Finnish autonomy to an empty phrase. "Tho long list of subjects excepted by tho Bill from tho decision of the Diet covers practically tho wholo domain of internal government." Further, the Bill "contains a clause providing that tho 'fundamental principles of tho internal government of the Grand Duchy of Finland may bo defined or amended by established legislative process on tho Imperial initiative.' This means that subsequent changes may bo effected by the Sovereign with the assent of the Duma and of.the Council of the Empire." When the Bill appeared in tho Duma, the Opposition opposed it on the ground Hint it reduced the Finnish Diet to a consultative assembly, inasmuch as the proposed changes would be enacted solely by the Duma. The correspondent of "Tho Times" considers it certain that tho Duma will adopt the Bill, "as only tho Constitutional Democrats and tho Extreme Left will vote against it." What then will happen? To quote again from tho correspondent :— "If M. Stolypin's Bill passes tho Duma, they (the Finns) will refrain from sending a member to tho Council of the Empire and four Deputies to tho Duma as provided therein. A general strike or a boycott of Government institutions in Finland is threatened in the last resort. It is to be hoped that counsels of moderation will prevail, but tho situation is undoubtedly serious."