The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-18
FINLAND.
Must BE Neither Independent Nor
Swedish, but an Autonomous Province.

Must BE Neither Independent Nor
Swedish, but an Autonomous Province.
To THE EDrToR OF THE SuN-Sir. The
Finland populations, both Firms and
Swedes, have proved loyal to the impe-
rial Government during this war. Ex-
empt from imperial military service
and paying a military tax not In pro-
portion to the sacrifices made by the
other parts OF the empire for the ma
tional defence. the people OF Finland
have helped their imperial co-cltizens In
organizing hospitals for wounded and
sick soldiers and collecting clothing and
medical supplies for them. and have
sent some volunteers to the Russian
army. Therefore the question OF Fin
lam IL not critical now, and Flrland's
autonomous institutions have received
a new reason for future development.
We don't want TO break up the au-
tonomous administration OF Finland.
We Russians were struggling for equal
rights in Finland. Until new laws were
introduced by the imperial Parliament,
Russian traders had no right to trade in
Finland Russian landlords had no right
to elect their representatives In Fin.
lands Diet, but the citizens OF Finland
coming to the empire enjoyed all the
civil and political rights belonging to the
| citizens of Russia. This anomaly was
to he abolished.
Inc irontler OF autonoInous rln,si.
lies ABOUT twenty Hiies rom ie.rosrs1
n tortuous coas'i'ne ui r'n.anu
fords great lanolns laciiltles ,or ~
MES Inc onIy roau oe'ween r''seu
anu russia No" ope" 49, 70
from SMeueh 10 ietros.a" 'n.oue" -
and Inese iacts prove una. 'ne unus
sian mi!ltary authorities wero oo.seu
10 !hvIuac rlnIanu III '.e sp".'eT 80
"atcnlul ac,ivl'y " W ounu
iortresses IN flnisnu, me ruSe,an oo
eminent was op,iseo 10 unI'e ~ nc.
work OF fihIanus .ahroaus VIZ" %'
OF 'he e'nplre' "hSnins " ..,ior
economic SUMMING vi r'nia"u !" n
sldh 'oVernnneht a',oMe' 49,
Duchy VI rihia'" W -
toms iron,ier anu us own cus.o's an
put this .aiin "ss ~eApIo',.u .
many IN detriment 10 tne RUSSIAN p.o-
queer. IhereIoro rlhiaho u - ~
cluoed IN the Imperial CUSTOM "r"i '''-
tenn
As far az ! KNOW tne Ien'ions Do
tween inc RUSSIAN sno Sweu"n a..
mehts are now Oh inc iriena'iest. u
deIegates OF the RUSSIAN roNernineh'
OF uniting tne RUSSIAN rAliroaos ""
those OF sweden were received IN S'och-
holm with cordiai hospi,aIi'y anu con,
sheraton. nope that inc Sweoos WIN
agree with tne iheVi'apie JuusInent w
history thst r1niano canhot W eilh.r
SWeulsh or Independents, that she nap >.
ne an autonomous RUSSIAN province anu
send her representatives. 10 the Imperial
puma. .
Inc normal oe'eIopHeh' Oh rlnisnu
under Imperial RUSSIAN sway was mn
dered ny German ~intrisues' ihs Ger
mans ohdeaVored 10 make miscnlei pc
tween FINLAND ana RUSSIA, as pet"eeh
the RUSSIAN Government ana the io'es'
Now German intr!gues nave become an
open secret, ana we are aIIoWeu 10 nope
mat the rlnnish people VIII DO moIe
trusting IN regard 10 their great Nus
sian brother people. who have no IN
tention OF in)uring their i~nstitutiohs ui-
ferent from those or RUSSIA
n ueNeIopneht OF flhnlsh ii'eratufe
ana science Is que 10 the RUSSIAN ooV-
eminent. which gave the finhish IAN
suase the same risht IN ao,nihis'fa.loh
mat only S"ed'sh useu 10 nave ~"
the RUSSIAN language Is 10 receive 'he
same rights IN f1hIahd as rihh.sh anu
swedish, lhere are pAr'ies III MANI
which ght against TINS measure bu'
IL Will open 10 flnhlsn enterprise ,he
enormous RUSSIAN Market 10 develop
when requires knowIedge OF i'ussiah'
Finnish excluslveness and suspicious
senaratlsm had no hlstorlcai oase' pul
they eWhittered RUSSIAN natlohai ieeIihs