The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-13
New Flareup Threatens Grief
for Russ Republic.
Finnish Diet Passes Bill on
Second Reading.
GET SYMPATHY IN PETROGRAD
Socialist Group in Capital As
sert Firms Are Right.
Claim Revolution Ended Rus
Sia's Control in Finland.

Petrograd, July 13-The Finnish
diet on Thursday passed the second
reading of a bill virtually establishing
Finnish independence. TIL. introduce
ton of the bill has created a serious
crisis here and n. C. Tcheidz, presi-
dent of the council of workmen's and
soldiers delegates, has gone to Hell
singfors in an effort to settle the diff
ference.
An indication of the seriousness of
the situation was a late sitting of the
Petrograd cabinet and a decision of
Premier Lvoff to summon back to the
capital the ministers who are now
with the army. According to the
Birzheviya. NJ. Lvoff's Socialist col
leagues declare themselves in sympa-
thy with Finland's move. The pre-
mier and other ministers belonging TO
the cabinet party, refuse, however, to
allow Finland to determine her rela-
tons with Russia, insisting she must
wait until the meeting of the con-
stituent assembly.
Hint of Armed Interference.
The comment of the newspapers in
Petrograd is sharp. The Rech de-
clares it is impossible for Russia to
tolerate Finland's move. The BirZhe-
viva hints at armed interference, say
ing that Russia now is about to make
a last attempt toward a peaceful set
tlement.
According to the present program
Helsingfors will tomorrow put the bill
passed Thursday into force by simple
declaration" meaning without Rus
, sia's sanction. This is the first formal
denial of Russia's suzerain rights.
The law which was engineered by
the Socialists, proclaims that Russia
has lost all authority in Finland eX-
cept in the domains of dipl1 macy
and in the army and navy. wherein,
however, Russia's rights run unde-
/ fined. All other prerogatives of the
grand duke of Finland, which the
provisional government claims passed
automatically to 1t, belong to Finland
| Specifically the diet assumes the grand
/ dukes right to put into executI IN the
! law to invoke and prorogue the Iegis-
| lature and appoint supreme executives
! Will Appoint Finn Senate
| The governor general is not lnen-
( toned in the law and as no functions
are left him he is practically super
I seeded. kilograms from Helslngfors
declare that after the PRONUNCIATION OF
the law the diet will appoint it's own
/ senate.
An inkling of the action of the Fin
/ niSh diet was given on June 90 when
the Social Democratic congress of Fin
! land adopted resolutions demanding
! the separating of Finland from Rus
i STA and the formation of an indie
pendent republic. Under the plan
{ proposed, Russia would not have the
right to keep troops in Finnish terri
| tory in time of peace or possess any
| Notifications. Economic relations be-
tween Finland and Russia would be
| regulated as between foreign coun-
| tries.
The Finnish Social Democrats adj
dressed the Social Democrats of all
countries, especially Russia, asking
them to support the establishment OF
! Finland's independence on the ground
! that the Russian government which
was characterized as bourgeois. was in
4 capable of asserting power in Finland
| Freedom Usurped by Ex-Czar.
! The grand duchy of Finland forms
a separate division of the Russian
/ empire and until the last few years
preserved it's constitution. Its auto
/ nomy has been in a great measure
abolished by acts of the Russian gov
eminent. A encouragement repre-
Sents the Russian government.