A CRISIS IN FINLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12649, 10 November 1905, Page 5

A CRISIS IN FINLAND.

THE CZAR ISSUES ANOTHER

MAIN t(EFESTO

FRANTIC EETFORTS TO STAVE OFF

DISASTER

EXTENSION/OF THE ERANOHISE

(Received iNovemiber 9. 8.40 a.m. ■ ST. PETEiRSBUiRG, November 8. With the support of the National Guard,; the Workmen at Belsingfons, who are. admiifisfcermg tihe Government, are preparMgp in i'i*esponse to appeals from otlher. tqjwns, and subject to the Czar's sanction, to elect on Saturday an interim Government. The troops have quitted the town, and are- encamped outside. 50 3 000 men amd three guns landed from the warships. The guns of the Evesborg fontrass are "drained on Helsingfors. H 'Prince Obolensky, the Goversor, took refuge <a/board the Slava. The Czar's manifesto arrived on Saturday, 'but was withheld owing. to the 'machinations of ißuasian officials representing/that Finland had risen, to secure independence. r The final manifest© published on Monday, instructs tihe Senate provisonul'ly to remain in office and 'to elaborate and introduce to the Diet bills establishing a Parliament on a "basis of universal suffrage. It altfo gfves 'liberty of press, speech, and association. The Czar hopes these measures will strengthen the ties binding Finland and the monarch.; The Ministers in St. Petersburg have, elaborated an important extension of the National Duma franchise, consider-.

ably lowering the property, and rental qualifications and giiving the working classes 25 representatives (an average of one per quarter million constituents). It also extends the suffrage to holders of High School dopdomas. The Duma is to consist of 600 members.