Appointments to administrative positions in Finland in the policy of the Finnish governor-general N.N. Gerard in 1905–1906

Abstract

In the history of Russian politics in the Grand Duchy of Finland, the activities of the Russian administration on Finnish territory during the first Russian revolution are of considerable interest. In 1905–1906 the tsarist government passed to the policy of concessions in Finland. That policy was implemented by the Finnish Governor-General N.N. Gerard, who held the office in 1905–1908. Appointing Finns to administrative posts in the Grand Duchy was a special part of N.N. Gerard practice.

The article considers the circumstances of Gerard’s appointment to the post of Governor-General. Providing her research with L. Mechelin’ letters, the author shows that Gerard had close contacts with Finnish politicians before his appointment as Governor-General. His decisions on the replacement of governors and other officials in Finland Gerard, agreed with the Constitutionalists’ party representatives. The author also presents Gerard’s estimations of the situation in the Duchy. Though as Governor-General he had no opportunity to participate fully in the Senate meetings (as since 1906 they were held in Russian only since 1906) Gerard did not consider that to be a limit his powers. Gerard’s policy of concessions to the requirements of the Constitutionalist party inFinlandwas criticized by the conservative Russian press. The tsarist government supported that policy until 1907. The reason for Gerard’s resignation in 1908 was change of Russian politics towardsFinland.