In the Duma on Monday M. Stolypin made a long
statement on the relations of Russia and Finland. He reviewed the history of Finland from its cession to Russia by Sweden, and declared that the Finnish authorities had persistently infringed the prerogatives of the Crown. Armed organisations like the Red Guard were formed, and the police failed to suppress Russian terrorists who batched plots within the Finnish borders. Laws and ordinances affecting Imperial interests were often made in Finland without consultation with the Imperial Government, yet the Treaty of Cession bad given Finland no such right. Ultimately M. Stolypin explained his proposal to co-ordinate the laws of Russia and of Finland in all Imperial matters. The Times correspondent says that the speech made no concessions to the party which' demands a revival of the Bobrikoff regime, and that it proved Constitutional ideas to be taking root. Of course a Constitu- tion in Russia requires a readjustment of the old relations of the central Government with all its offshoots. Constitu- tionalism in Imperial affairs will, we believe, he a safeguard of Russian liberty. When its ramifications are widespread, retrogression will be very difficult, if not impossible.
