42
signalled by three gunshots (first one and then two quickly after one another). At the same time the Russians stated that they had no objection to our people taking the Hotel Pœnix for headquarters, with the exception of the rooms already occupied by the Russian Soldiers' Committee. We informed the Russians that before morning we would submit a strategical plan for the taking of the city. This plan is later submitted to the Russians."
At the meeting next day the "strategical plan" is discussed, with a few small amendments it is carried, and then sent on to the Russian soldiers. At the same time it is determined that "the leading persons and other such" of the bourgeoisie—a special list is found—are to be arrested immediately on the outbreak of the revolution, and that all "central places" must be taken.
Also in Tammerfors the strike is prepared after joint deliberation with the Russians. The work is thus distributed that the Russian soldiers are to make all searches after weapons and take possession of the telegraph, while the Finnish Red Guard does the rest.
It is thus plainly seen that the real purpose of the November strike was to carry out the "revolution," for which the signal had been given already before, and none other. Now the time had come. The Bolsheviks had taken over the Government in Russia; now they wanted to do the same in Finland. The Finnish Labour Party was allowed to hang on to the circumference of the big Russian revolution and secure the power to themselves at home. In view of this the party was quite indifferent to what the result would be for the country in its entirety if pure anarchy and complete mob-rule should be the result. It looked as if the party had already lost the last remnant of its sense of
