Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-14
FINNISH INDEPENDENCE
IS PROCLAIMED BY DIET
Newspapers In Petrograd Declare 1t
Is Impossible for Russia to
Tolerate Such Action,
GREAT INDIGNATION EXISTS
President Of Council of Workmen's
and Soldiers Delegates Leaves for
Helsingfors in Effort to Settle Diff
ferenceS.
IRy Associated Pre.a.l


PETROGRAD. July 13.-The Finnish
Diet on Thursday passed the second
reading of a bill virtually establish
ing Finnish independence. The intro
duction OF the bill has created q seri-
Gus crisis here, and n. c. Tcheidze
president OF the Council OF workmen's
and Soldiers Delegates. has gone to
Helsingfors in an effort to settle the
differences.
An indication OF tho seriousness OF
the situation was late sitting OF the
Petrograd Cabinet, and a decision Of
Premier Lvoff to summon back to the
capital the ministers who are now
with tho army. According to the
Birzheviya, NJ. Lvofrs Socialist col
leagues declare themselves in principle
In sympathy with Finland's move.
The Premier and other ministers be-
longing to the Cabinet party insist.
however, that Finland must wait until
the meeting OF the constituent as
sembly.
The comment OF the newspapers in
PetrogrAd is sharp The Reich de-
clares 1t is impossible for Russia TO
tolerate Finland's move. The Birz-
heviya hints at armed interference.
WILL PUT BILL INTO FORCE
BY SIMPLE DECLARATION
According to present program, Hell
singfors tomorrow will put the bill.
passed Thursday into force by simple
declaration" meaning without Russia's
sanction. This Is the first formal de-
NAL OF Russias suzerain rights
The law, which Was engineered by
the Socialists. proclaims that Russia
has lost all authority in Finland cx-
cept in the domains OF diplomacy. and
and in tho army and navy. wherein.
however. Russia's rights are underlined.
All the prerogativcs OF the Grand
Duke of Finland. which tho provi-
sIonal government claims passed auto
matically to it. belong to Finland.
Specifically. the Diet assumes the grand
dukes right to put into execution the
law. convoke and prorogue the Legis-
lature and appoint a supreme execu-
tive.
The Governor-Gcneral' is not men
toned In the law. and he is practically
superseded. kilograms from Helsing-
fors declare that after the promulga-
tion OF the law. the Diet Will appoint
its own Senate.
An inkling of the action OF the Fin
nish Diet was given on June 20. when
Finland adopted resolutions demanding
the separation o! Finland from Russia
and the formation Of an independent
republic. Under the plan proposed.
Russia would not have the right to
keep troops in Finnish territory in
time OF peace or to possess any FORTH
cations. Economic relations between
Finland and Russia would be regulated
as between foreign countries.
The Finnish Social Democrats ad-
dressed the Social Democrats OF all
countries. especially Russia. asking
them to support the establishment of
Finland's independence on the ground
the Russian government. which was
characterized as bourgeois. was in
capable of giving adequate guarantees
OF the inviolability Of Finland's free
dom.
The grand duchy of Finland forms
a separate division of the Russian en-
pire, and until the last few years pre-
served its old Constitution. Its au-
tonomy has been in a great measure
abolished by acts of the Russian gov
eminent. Governor General repre-
SCENTS tho Russian government.