Finland's declaration of independence
The Finnish declaration of independence was adopted by the Parliament of Finland on December 6, 1917. It aimed at elevating Finland from being an autonomous Russian Grand Duchy into an independent and sovereign state.
Revolution in Russia
The February Revolution, 1917, and even more so Lenin's Bolshevist October Revolution, had ignited hopes also in the Grand Duchy of Finland. After abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 15, 1917, the personal union between Russia and Finland lost its legal base – at least according to the view in Helsinki.
On November 15, the Parliament had drawn the consequences, and declared to be "the possessor of the supreme State power" in Finland, based on Finland's Constitution, more precisely on in the old Instrument of Government of 1772, that was enacted by the Estates after Gustav III's unbloody coup.
The old Instrument of Government was however no more deemed suitable. Leading circles had long held monarchism and inheritable nobility to be antiquated, and foresaw a republican constitution for Finland.
The Senate of Finland, that was the government the Parliament had appointed in November, came back to the Parliament with a proposal for a new republican Instrument of Government on December 4th. The Declaration of Independence was technically given the form of preamble of the proposition, and was intended to be concurred in by the Parliament.
The Declaration
With reference to the declaration of November 15, the declaration says:
- The people of Finland has by this step taken her fate in her own hands; a step both justified and obligated by the present conditions. The people of Finland feels deeply that it cannot fulfil her national and international duty without a complete sovereignty. The century-old desire for freedom waits for to come true now; Finland's people steps foreward as a free nation among the others in the world.
- (...) The people of Finland dares confidently await how other nations in the world recognize that with her full independence and freedom, the people of Finland can do her best in fulfilment of those purposes that will win her a place amongst the civilized peoples.
Hardship burdened the common people, which already had resulted in alarming polarization, and soon would ignite the Civil War. The declaration actually adresses this problem:
- The Government will approach foreign powers to seek the recognition of our political independence. All the complications, famine and unemployment ensuing from the present external isolation make it urgent for the Government to tie direct contacts with foreign powers without delay. An urgent concrete assistance in form of necessities for living and industry is our only rescue from imminent famine and industrial standstill.
On December 6, the Parliament adopted the Declaration, why that day is the national holiday for Independence in Finland.
See also
