We Nicholas the Second, by God’s grace Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russians, Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, etc, etc, etc.

Whereas we have received for Our final consideration the humble petition of the Finnish Estates of December 31, 1904 concerning measures for the return to the rule of law in Finland, We have found this worthy of Our attention and this shall be carried out. Furthermore We have graciously ordained for the further advancement of the privileges of the Finnish people as defined in the laws of the constitution that proposals for important constitutional reforms shall be drafted for presentation to the representatives of the people.

In consequence whereof We do order that the basic regulations appertaining to Our manifesto of February 3/15, 1899 shall be suspended until the matters therein mentioned shall be dealt with by the legislative process, and We desire the repeal of the following: The law of April 2, 1903, concerning measures for the preservation of political order and the general peace (with explanations and additions) and the decrees of November 10m 1903 whereby the department of the gendarmerie was granted official status in the Grand Duchy. The twelfth paragraph of the law of July 10, 1902, concerning the amendment of the formula and arrangements for proclamation of statutes and government decrees in the Grand Duchy of Finland. The law of September 8, 1902 on the amendment of certain sections of the regulations governing the Imperial Finnish Senate, the law of the same date on the extension of the powers of the Governor-General of Finland, the law of March 26, 1903 concerning the confirmation of the instructions for the Governor-General of Finland and his assistant, and the law of the same date on the amendment of instructions to the governors, and the military service law of July 12, 1901. The law of July 31, 1902 concerning the amendment of regulations governing employment in the civil service in Finland, the law of August 14, 1902 concerning the procedure whereby administrative civil servants are to be discharged from office, the law of the same date concerning the procedure for prosecuting civil servants for offences against their office, and the law of July 2, 1900 concerning public assemblies.

Furthermore We do instruct the Senate to consider without delay other laws mentioned in the petition which are in need of alteration.

Besides, We have also seen fit to authorise the Senate:

1. To prepare a proposal for a new Parliament Act embodying reform of the Finnish people's assembly fitting for the times, by the adoption of the principles of universal and equal suffrage to the election of people’s representatives.

2. To prepare a proposal for a constitutional decree which shall recognise the right of the people’s assembly to supervise the lawfulness of the actions of the members of the government and secure the rights of speech, assembly and association for the citizens of the country, and

3. To prepare a proposal for the freedom of the press and to issue immediately a proclamation suspending the activities of the censor.

And We expect the Senate to prepare these proposals, for which preparatory work has already been partially completed, in time for them to be presented to the Estates which are to meet in an extraordinary Diet which We have this day resolved to summon.

We sincerely hope that these measures granted by Us, which spring from Our care for Finland’s well-being, will strengthen the bonds which unite the Finnish people to their ruler.