Decree on the independence of Finland adopted

December 18 (31), 1917 the Soviet of People’s Commissars of RSFSR adopted a decree on the state independence of Finland.

After the collapse of autocracy in Russia, the power was taken by the Provisional Government, and after the October Revolution – by the Bolsheviks. The Government of V. I. Lenin by one of its decrees declared "about the right of nations for self-determination". In this context, the Finnish Government adopted the Declaration of Independence 6 (19) December, 1917.

At the end of December 1917 in response to an appeal of the Finnish government to recognize the independence of Finland Republic, the Soviet of People's Commissars decreed: "recognize the state independence of Finland and to organize, in agreement with the Finnish government, a special Commission of representatives from both sides to develop the practical measures that derived from the separation of Finland from Russia”.  

The Chairman of the Soviet of People's Commissars presented the text of the decree to the Prime Minister of Finland P. E. Svinhufvud, who led the Finnish government delegation.

The document was ratified by the All-Russian Central Executive Committe December 22, 1917 (January 4, 1918) and the 3rd All-Russian Congress of Soviets January 15 (28), 1918.

The first to recognize the independence of Finland were Sweden, France and Germany. To govern the activities due to the separation of Finland from Russia, was established a Joint Russian-Finnish Committee, whose the most important task was to determine the boundaries between the two countries.

On the night of December 28 (January 10), 1918 in Finland started the social-communist revolution. January 3 (16), 1918 the Senate, being conferred with emergency powers by the Diet, appointed Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, a former Russian army general, Commander in Chief. In early May, the revolution was finally suppressed. May 15, 1918 Diet announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia.

October 14, 1920 in Tartu (Estonia) was signed a peace treaty between the Republic of Finland and the RSFSR. The objective of the treaty was to end the war between the states and settle contentious issues.

Lit.: Борьба советской России за освобождение народов // Громыко А. А., Пономарева Б. Н. История внешней политики СССР 1917-1980 гг. Т. 1. М., 1980; Декреты Советской власти. Т. 1. М., 1957. С. 250; О признании Финляндии: Постановление СНК [Электронный ресурс] // Хронос. 2000. URL: http://www.hrono.ru/dokum/191_dok/19171231finn.php; Советско-финляндские отношения в 1917-1922 гг. // Похлёбкин В. В. Внешняя политика Руси, России и СССР за 1000 лет. М., 1999.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Бородкин М. М. Справки о «конституции» Финляндии. СПб., 1900;

Даниельсон-Кальмари Ю. Р. Соединение Финляндии с Российской державой. Гельсингфорс, 1890;

История Российского государства: территории и границы. СПб., 2010;

Мехелин Л. Г. Противоречат ли права Финляндии интересам России? Гельсингфорс, 1890;

Нюгольм К. В. Положение Финляндии в Российской державе. Берлин, 1901;

“The declaration of the rights of the peoples of Russia” adopted // On this day. 15 November 1917;

Estland Labor Commune was established // On this day. 29 November 1918;

Сборник «Красная Карелия» = Kokoelma «Punainen Karjala». Петрозаводск, 1925.