Development of Lappa Movement to Oust Reds from Country, Village Protest Becomes National Campaign An interesting exposition of the! Lappa movement, the new ant!- Communist movement which is playing so large a part in Finnish political life according to recent telegrams, to a "North-China News" reporter in an interview with Captain Armas Anthoni, who recently arrived in Shanghai from Finland, The "Lappoists" have og their objective the suppression of Communist activities in Finland and the Lappa movement crystallizes the forts of a very patriotic group drive the Communists out of ti country.
Captain Anthoni stated that the "Lappa" is not a political party, but was coined to apply to a move' ment which commenced et a small village named Lappa where Fin Communists numbering 300 held conference last November, In consequence of offensive—sreeches and actions by the delegates, the conservative peasant population united to drive out the Communists, and this action, initiated in. the tiny village, has acquire national proportions and has taken the country. by. storm, Captain Antheni Sistorieal background of Finnish tility to Rassia, and the struggle independence from the Russ yoke, all of which bear en development of the present movement.
Ever since the h Russia of 1808-1809 when Finland tocome part of that country, her sole idea has been to become an independent state. It was after the year 1900 when Russia began with an intensive policy of making Finland Russian, that the people of Finland weer more than ever moved by @ desire to be free from oppression. And about the same time, Magistrate P.E. Svinhuwud (now Pr ter) was convicted by the Russian police and sent to Siberia for two Years because of his fight for Finnish rights. This happened daring the year 1915, From. that time an agitation for freedom hax proceeded in earnest.
The great war broke out and young Finnish men to the number of 2000 went to Germany to be trained as officers and under officers in the German army, with the intention that they would later use this military knowledge te fight against Russia.
England France looked with suspigicn at thie many, bat when the Gem general Staff gave them orders to go to the western front for a few weeks' actual service they refused, but they accepted te go to the Russian East Front instend.
In 1917, when the revolution in started, Finland's soldiers me, for this was the opportunity for which they had been waiting. And so under the leadership of General Mannerhcimt, gether with the peasants of the nation, they freed themselves ig, 1918 of Russian rule, Finland has become essentially, a particularly—deinoeratie parliamentary-minded nation, As 8 sult, freedom of the pres: and the individual has always been insisted. pen. Consequently, it has beet 2 comparatively easy' matter for the Communists to make headway and vse this weakness as a channel for their activities.. In fact they have even found their way into the parliament. The Communists, encouraged by this tolerance, have Lecome bolder and belder in. their activities, incurring the displeasure of the greater percentage of the population. In Lappa, or exempt the peasantry have for some time held secret meetings against Communism; in fact ever since the Communist conference held. there. in November, with the expelling the Comntinists parliament. They completely des troyed the Communist printing presses, an admittedly iMlogal act but one which they claim was necessary to reveal to the nation the power and activities of the The Government deemed it advi able to take moasares but this was in iteelt extra-legal, The party in rower proposed a law against the Communists making it Wogal for them to hold seats in Parliament, but Parliament did nct-snpyort the Faye and and as a result the existing government collapsed. At present, there i yet a new parliament to be chosen, and its composition will determine the future politienl policy, of the country.
In the mind of Captain Anthont, the consensus of opinion in Finland tends to indicate that there are only two logical candidates for the hend of the new government. The first is General Mannerheim, who was commander in the fight for freedom in 1918, The second is Kosola small land-owner in Lapyo and the leader of the "Lappoitts." There ure in Lappa about 3000 inhabitants, all strictly "whites" and extremely patriotic to the cause, It is said that Kosola receives telogramns constantly from all parts of Finland assuring him of the support of large groups of Finnish patriots.
It is likely that all Comaunist candidates for parliament will and) Gefeated shis_year. This applies Cts to certain groups of Finns force of Finnish soldiers taining! who have always had sympathetic Teanings toward Russia but who have never dared openly to express themselves and who extreme as the actual Communists, Captain Anthoni added that the recent peacetol Kidrapping of Dr. Hakkila, mayer of Tammerfors, was in the nature of how the Socialists, far to the Left, that they will be dealt with sum Married? Not only wed, but two children, and both working. Did he want to live in, or out? He preferred the bosom of his family.
Testimonials?
He produced a bunch, and among them we found one which was the} most original of any we have ever
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.