Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

embarrassing for the United States
after entering the war had Russia con-
ttnued under the car. In some form
II Is likely to continue embarrassing
until the war is ended and in the peace
settlement that will follow
The Firms are as distinctively a ma
tionality as any country in Europe The
spread OF democracy throughout Eu-
rope requires that what they have done
in the way of self-government be en-
couraged. The only question is
whether complete separation from the
new Russia is necessary in order to
maintain these institutions, however
necessary 1t would have been under
the old Russia
That there is strong popular feel
ing for complete separation has to be
recognized. All the news from Hell
singfors has indicated as much Hell
slngfors, the capital, and the seat OF
the university, Is situated on the Gulf
or Finland. and is not, therefore, so re-
mote from Petrograd and from other
saitic countries as to be isolated in
the events which influence sentiment.
What is known Is that in the diet
there has been very pronounced anti
Russian majority and that the senate,
which is also the cabinet or executive
machinery. has been powerless to stem
me popular movement That the coun-
try enjoyed large degree of legisla-
tive independence is apparent from the
statement that the diet refused TO vote
a loan to Russia.
me separatist resolution was voted
by an overwhelming majority 1t was
stated in the cable dispatches that the
move came from the sociaI-democrat
group. but the socialist members are
not SO numerous as to constitute vir-
tually the entire diet. Some other rad
zeal measures have been proposed. in
Guiding a bill abolishng property
quahhcations. and there are symptoms
of movements similar to that on the
part OF the socialist workingmen's
delegations in Petrograd 1t is more
than probable that German intrigue
mas been at work to foment the Fin
hish declaration for separation. but it
would be very foolish to ignore the
strong national sentiment for indie
pendence which is back of the move
ment.
The senate. which is expected to act
as conservative counterfoiI in or
binary circumstances. seems to be DOW
erless in the existing situation There
are twelve members Of the senate six
OF whom are social democrats, SO that
the body may fairly be said to be a
representative one. and not. as in the
case of the federal council of Ger
many. a mere instrument of the
throne.
The Finnish constitution requires the
senate to promulgate laws only after
they have been sanctioned by Russia
This was Russia's means OF preserving
her autocratic authority. The posi-
bility that any government at Petro-
grad. liberal and extremely republican
as it may be. would sanction law
separating Finland completely from
question is pretty certain to arise
whether the groups which have voted
for complete separation are ready to
take up arms to enforce their vote,
and whether the Russian government
will be compelled to go to war with
Finland. or part of the Finnish peo-
pie. in order to maintain Russian ter
ritorial integrity. 1t has shown
willingness thus far to concede every
thing short OF actual separation.
The Finnish government has power
to dissolve the diet just as the car
under the old conditions. could dis
solve the duma. and as the kaiser can
dissolve the German reichstag. Now
that separation has been voted. dissolu-
ton could have little effect on the
situation in Finland. The liberals in
control at Petrograd showed no desire
to have the Finnish diet dissolved
when they might have done it. This
would have smack d too much Of t-t
Ia. a. l-;E.J.dt !iiil: