A Report on the juridical status of Finland has been
issued by some of the chief authorities on international law to whom the question had been submitted. The decision arrived at is that Finnish autonomy is enjoyed as a national right, and not as a concession. This means that in the opinion of the jurists the Constitution of Finland cannot be altered without the consent of the Diet. There is no doubt as to the great weight of learning and authority at the back of this judgment, but unfortunately the tribunal did not hold its inquiry at the request of the Russian Government, and Russia was not represented. It-is possible, therefore, that Russia may temper her respect for the judgment with a certain annoyance that it should have been offered at all. We sincerely hope that this may not be so. We wonder whether serious attempts were made to have the inquiry sanctioned in some way by Russia.
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