Motherland Sweden? Before Finland Aland belonged to imperial Russia. "Most of nowadays so called micro states are very prosperous." Yes, and Aland developing to the direction of a tax haven is no exception. All the best! Raimo Personal photography homepage at http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho
-----Alkuper�inen viesti----- L�hett�j�: Lasse Karlsson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Vastaanottaja: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> P�iv�: 01. helmikuuta 2004 0:25 Aihe: Interesting OT: Aland and Finland (wasRe: * ist DigitalQuestion) >From: "Raimo Korhonen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Actually it was given to Finland by the League of Nations. > >That is correct. This was in June 1921, after Finland, having put the Aland Islands >under military occupation, had declared that she wouldn't comply with any decision by >the League of Nations, other than one which forced Aland and the Alanders under >Finnish sovereignty, and that Finland, if she wouldn't have her way, would rather go >to war to get it. >(You could even say that it was England who by her influential position in the League >of Nations gave Aland to Finland. If the wish of the Aland people would materialize - >what possible consequences would such a precedent carry with regards to the British >Empire, and not only to the Irish question.) > >> There was no referendum but prominent Alanders were of the opinion that Aland >> should be given to Sweden and of course Sweden had nothing against it. > >It's true that there was no formal referendum, as we know it today. The reason for >this was that Finland, subjecting Aland political leaders and spokesmen to political >harrassments and illegal imprisonment, wouldn't allow the Alanders to conduct one, >under threat of imprisoning those who asked for an internationally supervised >referendum. > >However, the Alanders did cast votes. In June of 1919 96% of those casting their >vote, by signing their names to a petition, voted for Aland to return to it's >motherland Sweden. > >Present day Finnish history legend on the Aaland Island Question bears similarities >to the Soviet-Russian history legend regarding those states which were forced under >Soviet rule. The Soviet history writing basically said that only "fascist" elements >opposed the free will of the people of those countries to join the Soviet Union. >In Finland they say that only "some prominent Alanders" didn't want Aland to become >Finnish, when in fact 96% voted for Sweden and against Finland. >"Anything but Finland" declared the Alanders before the League of Nation. Even >independence, although they knew it meant the greatest economic difficulties. > >>Now it is a demilitarised area with quite extensive autonomy. >> Last time there was a poll about the matter the majority preferred to stay with >> Finland - no doubt because it is financially beneficial. > >Whether it is or not, is a matter of debate. > >> The idea of an independent state with a population of a major village - 25000 - is, >> well ... interesting. > >I completely agree with you. Most of nowaday so called micro states are very >prosperous. > >Lasse > >> All the best! >> Raimo >> Personal photography homepage at http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho >> >> -----Alkuper�inen viesti----- >> L�hett�j�: Anders Hultman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Vastaanottaja: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> P�iv�: 31. tammikuuta 2004 19:17 >> Aihe: Re: Using multiple cameras and formats (wasRe: * ist DigitalQuestion) >> >> >> >Stan Halpin: >> > >> >>Right. But If I say Aland, who but you and Anders would know what/where >> >>that is? If I just say Sweden, I am insulting Aland. >> > >> >I'd think that would be more insulting to Finland than to �land, >> >actually, since �land formally is part of Finland and not Sweden, >> >even though historically �land has had closer ties to Sweden. >> > >> >Sometime in the early 1900's, a referendum was held on the island, >> >where the inhabitants voted to belong to Sweden, but Finland claimed >> >it anyway. >> > >> >Lasse, what is the current status on that? What do you �l�nningar >> >think nowadays? >> > >> >anders >> >------------------------- >> >http://anders.hultman.nu/ > >
