When assuming the duties of the office, he asked Archbishop Gustaf
Johansson a blessing on his task. Mannerheim was also Commander-in-Chief from 30 December
1918, till 26 July, 1919.
As Regent, Mannerheim was able to enjoy some of the splendour reserved for a head of state by the monarchists whose plans had recently gone amiss. He travelled in Finland and abroad to keep up the self-esteem of the Finns and Finland.
In foreign policy, he had to attend to Finnish interests in the tense situation caused by the Russian Civil War. He held to the view that Finland should participate in the occupation of St Petersburg and establish good relations with the government that might replace the Bolshevik Regime. On the other hand, he could not commit himself to the plans of the Russian anti-revolutionaries unless they were able to reorganize their ranks and recognize the right of Finland to independence. He even went as far as to consider leaving the law on the Republic form of government unratified in July 1919, a kind of coup d´etat. In the presidential election his support was insufficient
Russian Civil War | Honorary Doctor | Presidential Election 1919
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