HOW FINLAND IS RUSSIANISED.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 5 August 1901, Page 4

HOW FINLAND IS RUSSIANISED.

An Extraordinary Outrage

The extraordinary tension that has existed for some timi in the relations between the Russian Government and the formerly free people of Finland has received further accentuation in consequence of a gross outrage on a private gathering at the hands of the Governor of Helsingfors, the cipital of Finland. Countess Charles Mannorheira, (he wife of one the oldest titled families in Finland, and a lady well known in London society, is an admirable singer, and has been in the habic for some years past of giving concerts for charitable purposes. Recently (writes a correspondent of the Daily News) she obtained permisaion from the authorities to announce one of these concerts in aid of an iducaiional f nd. The only Finnish newspaper which has survived iho invasion of the new Russian regime pub sh id an advortismont accordingly. For this offence the number of the paper containing the announcement was at once supplied by the authorities The arrangements for the concert, however, proceeded up to the time advertised for the performance, when a detachment of police closed the doors, and the i audience not being able to obtain | admission, adjourned to the Socictcts Hus, or Club. Among them were the j leading notabili ies of the capital. I The concert was then begun at the Ciub. The Countess Mannerheim sang |

and just as she was in the middle of her song the Governor, attended by his staff and the Prefect of Police, strode in, and without a single word by way of preface, ordered the assembly to leave. No one stirred, the building being a private one. Thereupon the Governor issued orders to the police outside to enter and clear the place. As, however, the gathering was principally composed of well known, residents of Helsingfors, including a considerable proportion of ladies, the police refused to do their duty. The Governor then commanded tho Subprefect of Police, who is a Finn, under pain of instant dirmissal, to turn everyone out of the building, and further he threatened that it this was not done he would let loose Cossacks on tho ladies. The audience at length withdrew. It is difficult to imagine a more serious outrage on a private gatheriug by a high officer, more especially as permission had been asked and obtained beforehand for it to be held. During tho whole time of tho contest between tho Governor, tho officials, and the people present, Countess Mannerheim, continued to sing with the utmost composure.