The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-27
ANXIOUS TO HAVE
ALLIES RECOGNIZE NEW
FINNISH GOVERNMENT
(By Assoclatd Press.l

] London, Jan. 27.--General Manner
helm, the Finnish leader who has con-
scented 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 and the United States
recognize the new Finnish govern
ment.
The necessity for such recognition
at once is urged on the ground that
the peasants feel under great obliga-
tons to Germany for interfering and
establishing order in Finland and can
not be induced to transfer their al
legiance to the enemies Of Germany
unless steps are taken that will con
vince, them that the Entente powers
have real inte-es.. in Finland's vel
fare.
General MAnnerheim has been in
London for several days comforting
with A. J. Balfour, British foreign
secretary. He intends to go to Paris
to discuss the Finnish situation with
Colonel F.. NJ, House and French Of
ficials. He desires also to meet Her
bert G.. Hoover, the American Food
Administrator and talk ovec the pro-
visiOning Of Finland whose bread sup
plies are about exhausted -
Sweden and Denmark have consent
ed to let Finland have limited
amount of grain, but this supply will
not reach Finland in time to prevent
the suspension of bread rat:ons in the
larger cities of Finland for some
time.
According to dispatches received by
General Mannerheim virtually all the
German troops have now left Finland
There were less than two thousand
Germans there week ago, and as
these have been moving out whenever
ships were available, the General says
Finland is now doubtless entirely
free from German soldiers.
The Russian Reds are threatening
the Finnish border and the political
situation in Finland is so troubled
that recurrence OF the war between
the reds and whites which devastated
the country last winter is feared un-
less the government is able to obtain
adequate food supplies to relieve the
distress which is now becoming wide
spread Il.
Russian political refugees have .es-
capped into Finland in large numbers.
1t would be almost certain death fer
many Of these If they were forced to
return to Russia. Consequently the
Finnish government has permitted
them to remain in spite of the short
age Of foodstuffs, thus imposing an
additional tax on lis limited supply of
grain.
General Mannerheim led the Finnish
White Guards in .heir fight against
the Finnish Red Guards and Russian
Red Guards last winter, but retired
from the command the White Guards
accepted the support of German
t!oops. He was not in sympathy with
Germany's movement to entrench it.
self in Finland, and was summoned
back to Finland from Sweden after it
became clear that Germany must with
draw as result If It's defeat On the
western front,
An election is to be held in Febru-
airy to select a new Finnish Senate,
which will pass on the form of gov
eminent Finland is to have At pres
ent it is a constitutional monarchy,
conforming to the laws under which
it was governed when o part OF Swe-
den, before it was annexed TO Rus
STA. 1t is really grand duchy, but
as there is no grand duke to approve
its legislation, and as It's laws require
such approval, General Mannerheim
will, if he becomes regent as is now
proposed, act instead of a grand duke,
pending the establishment OF a legal
government to replace the constitu-
tional monarchy.