Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-11

The new and sudden turn which
vents In Finland have taken. during
DRssSne last rev days. ma more than
OIL Inytning else that has happened since
RSJkne beginning of the war foreshadow
scandinavian conflict with Germany,
mot II Is not conceivable that Sweden
Sae ndSsthe rest of the North will willing
ny 'acquiesce in plans proposing that a
lSXon pr the German emperor be placed
+ dpon the throne of Finland.
In When everything is considered, it
aMseems clear that Scandinavia will be
S%1nclfned to choose the lesser of two
aEevils. and rather have Russia for a
Msafneighbor in the east than an expand
4sSed, Prussia.
a@#R ~ Finland has declared her independ-
ssence, and her sovereignty has been
EFomclaIly recognized by several pow
Kiers.s But 1t stands to reason that with
S8 a German prince as king of Finland,
the country will be less free than it
m ever was during the Russian reign of
more than a hundred years.. 1t is al
u most safe to predict that if Prince
n Oscar of H~ohenzollern becomes the
NJ ruler of the Firms. they can expect as
little real autonomy as during the
III period OF Bohrikoff.
III There is no doubt that the Scandi-
~ naNian governments will protest firm
q ~ against the plan of placing a Prus-
" sian princeling upon a Baltic throne.
a Hhey will be quick to see that this
4 pan harbors no friendship for the
North.
VI "Nothing to Fear"
v And yet, the Koclnische Volkszei-
4 tunE had the audacity to write some
Il ago, in commenting upon the in
u creasfng intimacy in the inter-rela-
d tionehip Of h Northern countries:
n THE conditions in the Baltic have
gradually changed so as to be Of the
b greatest advantage and benefit to Ger
y many, and the Scandinavian countries
must recognize this fact. This is not
to be understood as though the Rus
sian peril will be substituted by a
/ German peril.
Sweden. for instance, must realize
that there is as little to far from
Germany as from Finland (sec!). gu,
interests do not contrast with those of
the Scandinavian countries, but they
may be furthered by a display of good
will on both sides" -
Stbtlcty Of German Diplomacy.
On December 81 it was reported
, from London that Germany, following
out,the line of conduct which she had
s pursued throughout the war. propos-
ed to give Finland to Sweden. 1t was
added. carefully. that German diplo.
mats had not stated this officially, but
~" dS HluSn.
Man merkt die Absicht," as the
Germans themselves say-"the inten-
ton is EVIDENT Germany wanted to
manoeuver herself into undoubted
\ Swedish friendship. 10.
Swedish diplomats and newspapers
did not believe in the nobility of Ger
plainly.
At the same time Finland empha-
sized the fact that h did not want
to be given away but desired COM
p!ete independence. @
In that connection it may be re.
called. that a delegation from the Fin
rish senate had called upon Imperial
Chancellor o Hertling. asking him
to aid Finland in gaining it's freedom,
from Russia. The chancellor said
some extent be contingent upon the
so"tcome of the negotiations then ir
progress between Russia and the cen.
/ trail empires.
The outcome seems to have satisfied
Germany as far as Finland is con
rerned. since now the plan Of appoint
ing a German prince king Of FINLAND
c.ntbe sb~oached.-
True. the plan appears to ave or
Pinsted with the Finnish government
f'lt it may be safely taken for grant
ri that,if such an invita- ton has beer
c~terdcd by Finland. it was done un'
der pressure from Berlin.
s It is ~ernane to call attention t.
the problem of the .Aaland islands il
this. connection. In the so-callet
rs"ce treaty which Germany has con
cluded with Finland. it is expressl.
y painted out that measures for the per
manent standardization of the island
y VII he adopted.
This pledge was. written on a scra]
0f no which \ y gho y, G 90 eli ~ Il IN r,
to pieces. IS various other craps tina
ave futtered into the hands of tn,
German government. and it seem
very evident that whenever ''militar:
necessity" would present itself as al
apparently plausibles p%retense. this as
surance would GO, for naught..
The islands. although they have
population of slightly more than 90.
. 900, are of supreme strategic 'impor
= tarce and AVE always heen a boo
ri contention among the European
rovers. commanding SIS they do tn
+. Baltic sca and all the territories ad
.iacent thereto.
There are about three hundre
Ais1ands. hut only eighty are populat
%cd: they were coded to Russia by Swe
dors when thct country lost Finland i
'&oa. but Sweden was unable to sc
Gre promises from Russia that tn
'~'ands would rot he fortified. Grea
y Hratatn was not Sat'st'e1. 1naSnnnch a
: ia Fussians proceeded to fortify tn
islands. ND during the Crimesn wa
IN. Tn-l'sh-Erench force bombarde
md demolished the, ratification a
Pomersund following the protesta
tons against fertilization which ha
been made by Lord Fa'nerston 70
inward of twenty ear before.
5e5 A Treaty Agreed To-.
ON March 80, 1856. the so-calle
.AaIand treaty was agreed to anon