347 (Diplomatic Reminiscences before and during the World War, 1911-1917)

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downfall: the secession of Finland so hurriedly
recognised by our allies. When the future Russian Constituent
Assembly has to settle the frontiers of the Empire I
hope that she will ratify the complete and final divorce
of Russia from the Grand-Duchy of Finland. From
that moment there would be nothing to hinder a sincere
and mutually profitable drawing together of Russia and
Sweden, of which the first political object would be
Finland herself. For if the Swedish elements in Finland,
elements which are wholesome and eminently honest,
gain the influence they deserve in the country, Finland
would take up the natural and beneficial role of a peaceful
State, interested in the economic welfare of her great
neighbour in the East; whereas the preponderance of
the Finnish race, inclined to cruelty and treachery,[1]
would force Russia and Sweden to unite their policy
more, and together to guard against Finland becoming
what she nearly became in 1917—a German base for
operations in the Baltic and a hotbed of Bolshevism.

When I speak of the change taking place in Swedish

[1] The Ural-Altaic race, commonly called Finnish, is represented in
Europe in four countries: the Turks, founders of the Ottoman Empire,
belonged to this race; in history they displayed much tenacity, coupled
with great cruelty incorrectly attributed to Mohammedan fanaticism. The
Bulgarians, a Finnish race, conquered the Slavs and the aborigines of
Mesia; they adopted the Slav language and Slavo-Byzantine civilisation,
but they preserved in the Bulgarian nation strong and indelible traces of
their blood, their mentality and their tendencies. The Magyars after
having terrorised Central Europe, were merged into the Slavs of Pannonia,
and were subject to the influence of Latino-Germanic culture; the physical
type of the people improved, but the Ural-Altaic language still persisted,
as did also the spirit of despotism and violence towards the other peoples
of St. Stephen’s crown. Finally the Finns proper, half savage only two
centuries ago, were at first entirely under the influence of Swedo-Lutheran
culture, but then singularised themselves latterly by suspicious and narrow
nationalism tending to the worst excesses.

There is a fairly important strain of Finnish blood in the Russian
peasant population of Central and Eastern Russia. This explains certain
traits of cruelty and treachery which one sees sometimes among these
populations, and which are so greatly at variance with the Slav frankness
and gentleness so often apparent in the history of the Russian people.

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		Diplomatic Reminiscences before and during the World War, 1911-1917 / 347 (1920) Author: Anatolij Nekljudov - Tema: Russia, War Table of Contents / Innehåll \| << Previous \| Next >>
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