Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 181
THE BIRTH OF A NATION
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resistance to the threatening social revolution. The Reds paid for
their mistake with tremendous loss of life and other sufferings
(»The White Terror«). It is hardly possible, however, to speak
of political and social defeats, for the civil war left untouched
the democratic system of government which was of great value
even to the majority of the victors. Furthermore, a direct result
of the war, one which lays bare the fundamental aim of the
struggle, was Finland’s greatest land reform which changed the
class of small holders (crofters) — many of whom had supported
the revolt — into an independent class of farmers.
The achievement of independence was accompanied by a
strange and adventurous aftermath in the sphere of foreign affairs.
The outstanding feature of this was the German supremacy ex-
tended over Finland throughout 1918. As early as the end of No-
vember, 1917, the Svinhufvud Senate established connections with
the leading German generals and expressed the hope of assistance
in the task of organising Finland’s internal and external affairs.
The sympathy of the ruling classes in Finland for Germany was
based partly on ancient cultural traditions and partly on a firm
belief in a German victory and in that country’s will and strength
to protect Finland’s independence. The requested help was forth-
coming, and in such abundance that after the suppression of the
revolt, Finland for a short time was nothing more than a vassal
of Germany. The Russian troops — of which far too much
had been made — were driven out of the country and replaced
by German troops who showed no signs of leaving. General
Mannerheim, suppressor of the revolt, was superseded and the
supreme command was assumed by the »German General in Fin-
land. The attempt to place a German prince on the throne of
Finland so obviously smacked of party politics and »secret diplo-
macy« that it obtained but little support among the people, even
though it was promised that the powers of the king would be
kept within parliamentary bounds, and democracy respected.
This hazardous political adventure was brought to an abrupt
end by the victory of the Allied forces in the autumn of 1918.
Finland’s political interests, first and foremost the recognition
of her independence, necessitated a new orientation. This change
was quickly effected, and in the right direction. It began with the
election of Mannerheim to the Regency of Finland at the end
of November and ended with the final acceptance of a Repu-
blican form of government on the i7th July, 1919, and with the