The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-20
FINN Government
SEEKS RECOGNITION
OFALLIED POWERS
Mannerheim, Regent of New
Country, and 0ther4eaderS
Ask Recognition of Entente
Powers.

LONDON, Dec. 20. Correspondence
Of the Associated Press.)-Gen. Man
nerhcim, the Finnish leader. who has
| consented to become regent of the new
| coalition government of Finland, and
the other supporters Of the govern
ment sustained by the white guards,
are extremely anxious to have the en-
! tente powers n the United states
recognize the new Finnish government.
The necessity for such recognition at
once Is urged on the ground that the
peasants feel under great obligations
to Germany for interfering and estab-
fishing order in Finland and can not
be induced TO transfer their allegiance
10 the enemies Of Germany unless steps
are taken that will convince them that
the entente powers have a real interest
in Finland's welfare.
Gen. Mannerheim has been in Lon
don for several days comforting with
A. J. Balfour, British foreign secre-
tary. He intends to go to Paris to
discuss the Finnish situation with Col.
f.. NJ. House and French officials. He
desires also TO meet Herbert c.. Hoover,
the American food administrator, and
talk over the provisioning of Finland,
whose bread supplies are about ex-
hausted.
Sweden and Denmark have consented
to let Finland have a limited amount
VI Bidlllf bu1 NlllS supply VIII llbl ItdtIl
Finland In tim to prevent the suspen-
sion Of bread ~rations in the larger cities
Of Finland for some time.
According to dispatches received by
Gen. Mannerheim, virtually all the Ger
man troops have o left Finland.
There were less than 1900 Germans
there a week ago. and as these have
been moving out whenever ships were
available, the general says Finland is
now doubtless entirely free from Ger
man soldiers.
The Russian reds are threatening the
Finnish border, and the political situa-
ton In Finland is so troubled that a
recurrence Of the war between reds
and whites, which devastated the coun-
Try last winter. is feared unless the
government Is able to obtain adequate
Food supplies to relieve the distress
which is now becoming widespread.
Russian political refugees have es-
capped into Finland in large numbers.
II would he almost certain death for
many OF these IL they were forced to
return to Russia. Consequently the
Finnish government has permitted them
to remain in spite of the shortage Of
ioodstHffs, thus imposing an additional
tax on It's limited supply Of grain.
Gen. Mannerheim led the Finnish
white guards in their fight against the
Finnish red guards and Russian red
guards last winter, but retired from
the command when the white guards
accepted the support Of German troops.
He was not In sympathy with Ger
many's movement TO intrench itself In
Finland, n was summoned back to
Finland from Sweden after it became
clear that Germany must withdraw as
q result of its defeat on the western
front.
An election is TO be held next Feb
ruary to select a new Finnish senate,
which will pass on the form of govern
ment Finland is To have. At present
Il Is a constitutional monarchy, con-
forming to the laws under which it
was governed when a part of Sweden.
before II was annexed to Russia. II
- really a grand duchy, but as there
IL no grand duke to approve It's legis-
lation, and as its laws require such
approval, Gen. Mannerheim will, IL he
becomes regent as is now proposed. act
instead Of a grand duke, pending the
establishment at a legal government to
replace The constitutional monarchy.