The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1918. FINLAND'S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1918. FINLAND'S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.

The effort which Finland is making to become a republic—one of several -which appear likely to be created out of the dismemberment of the once great Russian Empire—is being opposed by the Bolsheviks with their customary barbaric methods. Of late the cables containing Russian news have been largely made ! up of incidents connected with the civil war in Finland, and, though much of | this news comes from a tainted source, there appears to be every indication that the Finns are decidedly in earnest in desire to be self-governed. Finland has an area of 144,255 square miles, and a population of under three and a quarter millions. It was ceded to Russia in 1809, but had certain powers of local self-government under its old constitution of a grand duchy. By various decrees from 1899 to 1903 those powers were mostly, if not entirely, taken away, though in 1905 the Czar restored the independence of the Finnish Army, re-established the irremovability of the judges, and granted the demand of the pco;'■> for the restoration of legislative independence, a National Assembly being established. Apparently the Finnish people could look forward to a future bright with promise, but three years later the Czar sanctioned a protocol of the Russian Council of Ministers, under which wide powers of control were given over Finnish legislation, and embittered controversies followed, while in 1909 Finland practically lost control of its army. The people of Finland have suffered severely since the Russian revolution, owing to shortage of food. It has all the misfortunes of Russia in an aggravated form, as well as some special misfortunes of its own. One of the inevitable effects of all revolutions is the conflict between the classes, and Finland is no exception to the rule; but, in addition to the two recently-raised forces of Finns—who fight as fiercely as belligerents the country has been overrun by Russian soldiers, and now it has to face the murderous Bolsheviks, while the prospect of invasion by Teutonic hosts is by no means remote. There is also a probability that if Finland establishes her complete independence as the result of lies present struggle, she will risk fresh conquest and punishment when Russia recovers from her present troubles. Finland has furnished another illustration of the difficulty, after a long period of oppression, to reconcile liberty with order and legality. She has succumbed to the prevailing epidemic of unrest and revolutionary machinations. All went well until the Russian Provisional Government showed its weakness. Then Finland began to demand concession after concession, and the eape with which they were obtained emboldened the Finns to go to the extreme length of creating a separate republic. The separatist movement was due entirely to the growing anarchy in Russia, anil to the pronounced weakness of Pclrograd. The Provisional Government had enlarged Finland's independence, merely retaining the right to appoint the Gover-nor-General, and to nominate the Senate, but in view of what appeared to be a most tempting opportunity for separation, the Government's claim was repudiated and an Independence League formed. The Finns, by race, religion, history and" civilisation, .have nothing in common with the Russians, so that home rule was a popular movement, which grew apace as Russia's weakness increased, eventually a Bill being passed by the Landtdf.g plenum which established complete independence. Naturally, this law provoked extreme resentment and even threat* of

force in Russia, and the vitiil question was aoon aB to whether the loeai garrison would support Finland, and as that garriHon consisted of Bolsheviks it was inclined to back Finland as a Socialist measure. Kerensky was able to dissolve the Landtdag and decree new elections, and when the Socialist majority, ignoring the dissolution, attempted to assemble in the Landtdag House they were prevented by force. When the Socialists lost their majority after the general election there was an attempt at a coup d'etat, by seizing the Government buildings and establishing a reign of terror, in which the bourgeoisie were particularly marked out for murder and plunder. This was a reflex of what was happening in Russia, independence becoming secondary to class war. The truth of the matter is that the Finnish people lost their reasoning powers and became intoxicated, first with ideas of independence, and then with anarchy. In common with the Russians they were not fit for undertaking the duty of creating a sane, orderly and stable government, and drifted into chaos. Now they have increased their troubles by incurring the hostility of the •Bolsheviks. There is not the slightest question of the Finns having dealings with Germany, for the seizure of Finland by the Germans would be regarded by the Finns as the worst, misfortune that could befall them, and that is saying a great deal. It has been urged that the Allies should help the Finns, first by saving the people from starvation, and then by championing their cause. The difficulties in the way are so great that there can scarcely be any hope of such a course being adopted. War and famine hold Finland in their grip, and the outj look for the Finns is dark and forbidding.