This article examines how the Swedish-speaking island community of Ruhnu in the Gulf of Riga navigated the island’s incorporation into the Estonian nation-state through a sustained strategy of petitioning. From 1919 to 1921, Ruhnu’s inhabitants pursued parallel petitions submitted to Estonian authorities and to the King of Sweden with the aim of gaining confirmation of what they understood as historical local rights. At the same time, the island’s incorporation to the Republic of Estonia was contested by Latvia, which gave the islanders strategic leverage. Rather than treating the islanders’ petitions as peripheral expressions of a local grievance, the analysis frames them as an independent political strategy by which the community actively, and in part successfully, shaped the terms under which Estonian sovereignty came to be exercised over the island. It identifies in these texts a distinct privilege-based idiom of claim-making (‘privilege grammar’) focused on exemptions and confirmations, which stood in tension with the idea of modern uniform citizenship.
1. The island’s name is here standardised as Ruhnu (in Estonian sources also Ruhno; in Swedish and German, Runö; in Latvian, Roņu sala).
2. Early 1922 press reports gave a population of 274 and 272 respectively: “Par Roņu salu”. – Latvis, 28.01.1922 (274 inhabitants); “Valitsuse esitusest Ruhno saarel”. – Vaba Maa, 03.02.1922 (272 inhabitants).
3. On the negotiation and confirmation of elite privileges in the so-called capitulations of 1710, see Die baltischen Kapitulationen von 1710. Kontext–Wirkungen–Interpretationen. Hrsg. von K. Brüggemann, M. Laur, P. Piirimäe. Böhlau, Köln u.a. 2014.
4. T. Zahra. Imagined Noncommunities: National Indifference as a Category of Analysis. – Slavic Review, 2010, 69, 1, 93–119.
5. P. Haslinger. Dilemmas of Security: The State, Local Agency, and the Czechoslovak-Hungarian Boundary Commission, 1921–25. – Austrian History Yearbook, 2018, 49, 187–206.
6. For other examples of negotiations of authority and identity among Estonian–Swedish communities in the late imperial and post-imperial Baltic, see also J. M. White. Changing Tides of Nation and Confession: Building Orthodoxy and Empire on the Island of Vormsi, 1873–1905. – Ab Imperio, 2022, 2, 147–177; and G. E. Kranking. Island People: Transnational Identification, Minority Politics, and Estonia’s Swedish Population. Ohio State University, Columbus, 2009.
7. C. Gibson. Geographies of Nationhood: Cartography, Science, and Society in the Russian Imperial Baltic. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2022, 177–216.
8. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. Riksarkivet (SRA), Marieberg, Utrikesdepartementet (UD), 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079. On the role of the village assembly and the specific ecclesiastical privileges that had survived since the Swedish era, see also J. Steffensson. Elu Ruhnul. Olion, Tallinn, 1994.
9. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
10. T. O. Tøllefsen, J. M. White. Navigating an Orthodox Conversion: Community, Environment, and Religion on the Island of Ruhnu, 1866–7. – Scandinavian Journal of History, 2021, 46, 5, 642–664. https://doi.org/10.1080/03468755.2021.1921840
11. Ruhno saarel. VIII. Kirjutatud seadus ja kombeõigus; XI. Külakondline maapidamine. – Kaja, 29.08.1923.
12. Memorandum of the Swedish government concerning the situation of the inhabitants of Runö, 12.09.1921. RA (Eesti Rahvusarhiiv), ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
13. Report of the Direct Taxes Head Administration of the Ministry of Finance on the tax burden of the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 26.08.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 24–26.
14. Memorandum of the Ministry of Agriculture to the Government of the Republic concerning timber use on Ruhnu, 29.05.1922. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 61.
15. E. af Wirsén to the Swedish Foreign Minister (H. Wrangel), report on the Runö islanders’ petition, 02.10.1921. SRA, Marieberg, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
16. Svenskarne ihågkomma sina stamförvanter på Runö i Ryssland. – Åland, 01.09.1906.
17. G. Danell. Ett par Runö-bilder. – Stockholms-Tidningen, 24.04.1919.
18. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
19. Nagu Robinsoni saarel. – Postimees, 14.02.1920.
20. Eesti Vabariigi maa-ala, kus kuni 8. maini Eesti Vabariigist veel midagi ei teatud. – Vaba Maa, 17.05.1919.
21. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
22. Svenskarne ihågkomma sina stamförvanter på Runö. – Åland, 01.09.1906.
23. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
24. J. Steffensson. Elu Ruhnul. Olion, Tallinn, 1994.
25. Svenskarne ihågkomma sina stamförvanter på Runö. – Åland, 01.09.1906.
26. Estonian observers noted the symbolism of this construction: the new church stood immediately beside the ancient wooden church from 1644, creating a visual testament to the continuity of Swedish patronage across centuries: Nagu Robinsoni saarel. – Postimees, 14.02.1920.
27. Okraina kahtlustused. – Päevaleht, 23.10.1912.
28. M. Kuldkepp. The political choices and outlooks of the Estonian Swedish national minority, 1917–1920. – National Identities, 2021, 23, 4, 409–431, here 414. https://doi.org/10.1080/14608944.2021.1873930.
29. Kudas Ruhno saar ära võeti. – Uus Päevaleht, 14.11.1917.
30. Unless otherwise noted, dates until the beginning of 1918 are given in Old Style.
31. Statement of the Swedish population of Estonia to the Commissar of the Estland Governorate, 20.03.1917. RA, ERA-R f. 1290, n. 1, s. 100, l. 49.
32. Statement of the Swedish population of Estonia to the Commissar of the Estland Governorate, 20.03.1917. RA, ERA-R f. 1290, n. 1, s. 100, l. 49.
33. M. Kuldkepp. The political choices and outlooks, 415–416.
34. M. Kuldkepp. The political choices and outlooks, 416, 420–421.
35. About Operation Albion, see M. B. Barrett. Operation Albion: The German Conquest of the Baltic Islands. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 2008.
36. Kudas Ruhno saar ära võeti. – Uus Päevaleht, 14.11.1917. Later, Pechel celebrated this operation as the first instance in military history of an island being captured solely by air forces: R. Pechel. Die Besetzung von Runö. – Deutsche Rundschau, October 1937, 41–48, here 48.
37. R. Pechel. Die Besetzung von Runö, 46.
38. Kudas Ruhno saar ära võeti. – Uus Päevaleht, 14.11.1917.
39. R. Pechel. Die Besetzung von Runö, 47. The story of a gift of rifle to Hindenburg is also corroborated by another description of the German takeover of the island: Kudas Ruhno saar ära võeti, Uus Päevaleht, 14.11.1917.
40. On the chaotic conditions of the “dual power” period, the retreat of Russian forces, and the emergence of the Salvation Committee, see T. U. Raun. Estonia and the Estonians. 2nd ed. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, 2001, 101–105; and K. Brüggemann. Die Gründung der Republik Estland und das Ende des “Einen und unteilbaren Russland”: die Petrograder Front des russischen Bürgerkriegs, 1918–1920. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 2002, 58–64.
41. Swedish Embassy in Petrograd to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, forwarding a memorandum of the League of the Swedish People in the Baltic Provinces, 02.02.1918. SRA, Arninge, St. Petersburg, vol. 33.
42. J. Pöhl. Revolutionen och svenskarna i Estland. – Åland, 06.02.1918.
43. Memorandum of the League of the Swedish People of Estonia to General von Seckendorff, 12.04.1918. Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amts (PAAA), RZ 201 21769, 177–180. This memorandum specifically lists Ruhnu (Runö) as a constituent part of this “Germanic stock”.
44. M. Kuldkepp. The political choices and outlooks, 419–420.
45. M. Kuldkepp. The political choices and outlooks, 419.
46. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Memorandum concerning petitions from the inhabitants of Runö, 02.07.1921. SRA, Marieberg, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
47. Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Estonian Temporary Government, 16.01.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 42, l. 1.
48. Eesti Ajutise Valitsuse otsused (17. jaanuar 1919). – Riigi Teataja, 23.01.1919.
49. Schiller’s report on Ruhnu, 10.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 158, l. 50; Eesti Vabariigi maa-ala… – Vaba Maa, 17.05.1919.
50. Petition of the inhabitants of Ruhnu to Hans Pöhl, 08.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 38–39.
51. Petition of the Ruhnu islanders to Pöhl, 08.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 38–39.
52. Schiller’s report on Ruhnu, 10.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 158, l. 50.
53. Eesti Vabariigi maa-ala, kus kuni 8. maini Eesti Vabariigist veel midagi ei teatud. – Vaba Maa, 17.05.1919.
54. Från det isolerade Runö. – Svenska Dagbladet, 22.06.1919; Hvem tillhör Runö? Lettland eller Estland. – Nya Dagligt Allehanda, 23.06.1919.
55. Linderstam to Blees, 21.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 48–50.
56. Schiller’s report on Ruhnu, 10.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 158, l. 50.
57. Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Head of the Economic Department of the State Audit Office, Tallinn, 24.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 32; Minutes of the meeting on the Ruhnu expedition, 24.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 34; State Audit Office’s authorization for Jaan Kuusik to participate in the Ruhnu expedition, 26.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 35.
58. V. Reiman-Augi. Audit report to the State Auditor on the Ruhnu expedition and related financial irregularities, 28.07.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 30–31; Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Civil Department of the State Audit Office, Tallinn, 28.10.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 4; Minutes on the Ruhnu expedition, 24.o5.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 34.
59. N. Blees, E. Paldrock, O. Truumees, J. Kuusik. Report of the meeting of the Ruhnu expedition members, 14.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 22.
60. Blees et al. report of the Ruhnu expedition members’ meeting, 14.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 22; Reiman-Augi audit report on the Ruhnu expedition, 28.07.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 30–31; J. Adams. Audit report to the head of the Trade Section concerning the Ruhnu expedition accounts, 12.09.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 37–39.
61. Blees et al. report of the Ruhnu expedition members’ meeting, 14.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 22.
62. Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
63. Estonian Consulate in Stockholm to the Ministry of the Interior, 28.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 8, s. 90, l. 77.
64. Ministry of Food Supply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 8, s. 90, l. 78; Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Estonian Consulate in Stockholm, 03.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 8, s. 90, l. 79.
65. “Eesti Ajutise Valitsuse otsused”, Riigi Teataja, 23.01.1919.
66. Mémoire sur la Latvia, presented by the Latvian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives (Utenriksdepartementets arkiv), UD, P 10, A 7, 1918, p. 5.
67. Roņu sala. – Brīvā Zeme, 14.08.1919.
68. Petition of the Ruhnu islanders to Nikolaus Blees, 28.08.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 77–78.
69. T. Undén (Swedish Legation in Riga) to Nothin (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 05.04.1922. SRA, Marieberg, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079; A. Schiller. Ruhno saar. –Päevaleht, 15.08.1923; Confidential report by the Information Bureau (Laaman) on Ruhnu, 29.08.1923. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 12, s. 360.
70. Lätlased soovivad Ruhno saarele oma valitsust. – Vaba Maa, 01.09.1919.
71. Schiller’s report on Ruhnu, 10.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 158, l. 50.
72. Petition of the Ruhnu islanders to Pöhl, 08.05.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 38–39.
73. Blees’s report to the Minister of the Interior on the Ruhnu expedition, 09.07.1919. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 158, l. 56; Blees et al. report of the Ruhnu expedition members’ meeting, 14.06.1919. RA, ERA f. 66, n. 1, s. 99, l. 22.
74. Roņu bagāta. – Valdības Vēstnesis, 01.02.1920; Ajakirjanduse ülevaade. Ruhno saare küsimus. – Postimees (Hommiku-väljaanne), 04.05.1920.
75. Valga saatuse otsustamine. – Tallinna Teataja, 27.04.1920; Eesti-Läti piiriküsimus. – Sakala, 01.09.1920.
76. Lätlased ja Ruhnu saar. – Tallinna Teataja, 15.05.1920; K. Täht. Ruhnu saare küsimus Läti ja Eesti omavahelistes suhetes ning selle kajastamine perioodikas (1917–1927). BA thesis, University of Tartu, 2017, 24.
77. Ajakirjanduse ülevaade. Ruhno saare küsimus. – Postimees (Hommiku-väljaanne), 04.05.1920.
78. Erroneously named “Kurt von Stryk” in the newspaper articles.
79. E. Klaas (Estonian vice-consul in Stockholm) to the Head of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ed. Virgo), 18.05.1920. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 11, s. 275, l. 15; Baltisk politik i Runöprästens löneförmåner. – Dagens Nyheter, 16.05.1920; Eesti maaseadus ja Rootsi usuasjade ministeerium. – Kaja, 21.05.1920; Mitte Eesti valitsus, vaid Balti parunid on maakoha ära võtnud. – Tallinna Teataja, 21.05.1920; Ruhno saarelt. – Postimees (Hommiku-väljaanne), 27.05.1920.
80. Nagu Valgast kuuleme, – Postimees (Hommiku-väljaanne), 08.06.1920.
81. This discussion is summarised in K. Täht. Ruhnu saare küsimus Läti ja Eesti omavahelistes suhetes, 25–26.
82. C. Gibson. Attuning to Emotions in the History of Border-Making: The Estonian-Latvian Boundary Commission in 1920. – Journal of Modern European History, 2024, 22, 1, 40–54, here 40–41, 52. https://doi.org/10.1177/16118944231221031
83. The “Laura colony” (Estonian: Laura asundus or Laura koloonia) was an ethnically mixed settlement belt around Laura alev in Petseri maakond and the second main contested territory in the Estonian-Latvian border disputes in 1920–1923. See e.g. Eesti-Läti piiriküsimus. Sennise piiri tegelik tõmbamine. Laura asundus. Ruhno saar. – Vaba Maa, 19.08.1921; Veel Laura küsimusest. – Tallinna Teataja, 21.12.1921.
84. Eesti-Läti piiriküsimus. – Sakala, 01.09.1920.
85. Ruhno küsimus Rootsi lehtedes. – (Information Department report), 03.09.1920. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 1, s. 51, l. 10.
86. Ruhnu küsimus. – Meie Maa, 11.09.1920.
87. Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Minister of the Interior, forwarding a letter from the Estonian envoy in Stockholm, 27.10.1920. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 11, s. 494, l. 69–70.
88. J. Barros. The Åland Islands Question: Its Settlement by the League of Nations. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1968.
89. See League of Nations. The Aaland Islands question: Report of the International Committee of Jurists entrusted by the Council of the League of Nations with the task of giving an advisory opinion upon the legal aspects of the Aaland Islands question. Harrison & Sons, London, 1920.
90. [M. K.]. Vi fordra. – Kustbon, 03.03.1920; [M. K.]. Aibolands landsting. – Kustbon, 14.04.1920.
91. [H. P.]. Vår nationella organisation. – Kustbon, 10.03.1920; [N. B.]. Vårt närmaste mål. – Kustbon, 17.03.1920; [N. B.]. Aibolands självstyrelse. – Kustbon, 21.04.1920; [H. P.]. Om Estlandssvenskarnas självstyrelse. – Kustbon, 28.04.1920.
92. O. Kallas (Estonian Legation in Helsinki) to Prime Minister Jaan Tõnisson, 18.06.1920. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 1578, l. 239.
93. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079; B. Johansson (Swedish Consulate in Mariehamn) to the Cabinet Secretary of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 03.11.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
94. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
95. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
96. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
97. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
98. Hava runöborna vädjat till Sverige? – Åland, 03.11.1920.
99. B. Johansson (Swedish Consulate in Mariehamn) to the Cabinet Secretary of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 03.11.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
100. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs memorandum on Runö petitions, 02.07.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
101. Petition from the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 18.10.1920. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
102. Runö. Svenskön i Riga-viken. – Åland, 26.08.1922.
103. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs memorandum on Runö petitions, 02.07.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
104. See M. Kuldkepp. Põhjamaine Eesti: rahvusriigi sünd. Varrak, Tallinn, 2024, 281.
105. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs memorandum on Runö petitions, 02.07.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
106. Excerpt from the minutes of the Ruhnu village assembly, 06.05.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
107. Petition of the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 06.05.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
108. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs memorandum on Runö petitions, 02.07.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
109. Decision of the Government of the Republic concerning timber use on Ruhnu, 20.05.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 3, s. 6266, l. 1.
110. J. Nyman to Hans Pöhl, 10.04.1921. SRA, Marieberg, Hans Pöhl, vol. 11.
111. O. Kallas (Estonian Legation in Helsinki) to Prime Minister Jaan Tõnisson, 18.06.1920. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 1, s. 1578, l. 239.
112. Latvijast. Jälle Ruhno saare küsimus. – Päevaleht, 04.04.1921.
113. J. Seljamaa. Ruhnlaste arvamine Ruhno saare allumisest. – Vaba Maa, 14.07.1921.
114. Riigivanem Ruhno saarel. – Meie Maa, 09.07.1921; Riigivanem Ruhno saarel. – Vaba Maa, 13.07.1921.
115. Ruhnosaarlased tahavad Eesti vabariigi alla jääda. – Vaba Maa, 11.07.1921; Riigivanem Ruhno saarel. – Vaba Maa, 13.07.1921; J. Seljamaa. Ruhnlaste arvamine Ruhno saare allumisest. – Vaba Maa, 14.07.1921.
116. Petition of the inhabitants of Ruhnu to the Estonian State Elder. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 15–17, 42.
117. Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
118. E. K—n [Ernst Klein]. Runö – ett paradis för etnografer. Intressanta fynd. – Svenska Dagbladet, 26.10.1922.
119. Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
120. Runö icke förvisningsort. En förklaring från estniska konsulatet. – Svenska Dagbladet, 10.04.1921; Rootsi eksiärevus. – Sotsialdemokraat, 15.04.1921.
121. T. Undén (Swedish Legation in Riga) to the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, private letter, 26.08.1923. SRA, Marieberg, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
122. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs memorandum on Runö petitions, 02.07.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079; Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
123. See Päts’s handwritten resolutions (to consult the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Interior) attached to the Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52.
124. Petition of the inhabitants of Ruhnu to the Estonian State Elder. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 15–17, 42.
125. Report to the Minister of Trade and Industry on rifles issued to the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 01.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 3; Proposal of the Minister of Trade and Industry concerning rifles issued to the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 13.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 33.
126. Ruhnu inhabitants’ petition to Blees, 28.o8.1919. RA, ERA f. 1108, n. 8, s. 4, l. 77–78.
127. Petition of the inhabitants of Runö to the King of Sweden, 06.05.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
128. Decision of the Government of the Republic on timber provision for the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 20.05.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 3, s. 6266, l. 1.
129. Ministry of Agriculture to the Government of the Republic, 29.05.1922. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725.
130. Confidential report by the Information Bureau (Laaman) on Ruhnu, 29.08.1923. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 12, s. 360.
131. Ministry of Agriculture (Forestry Department) to the Government of the Republic, proposal on Ruhnu forest use policy, 05.07.1923. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 3, s. 6342, l. 1; Ruhnu saare elanikkudele antakse tasuta metsamaterjaale. – Vaba Maa, 08.07.1923.
132. Petition of the inhabitants of Ruhnu to the Estonian State Elder. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 15–17, 42.
133. Report of the Direct Taxes Head Administration of the Ministry of Finance on the tax burden of the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 26.08.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 24–26.
134. Swedish memorandum concerning Runö, 12.09.1921. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 5, s. 725, l. 52; Wirsén report on the Runö petition, 02.10.1921. SRA, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
135. State Secretary to Minister of War, notice of the Government decision of 16.06.1922 permitting Ruhnu conscripts to remain in service on the island at the lighthouse, 19.06.1922. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 4, s. 1326, l. 10.
136. Ministry of War to the Government of the Republic, report on the fulfilment of compulsory military service by the inhabitants of Ruhnu, 04.09.1923. RA, ERA f. 31, n. 4, s. 1326, l. 4.
137. Memorandum by Eric Gyllenstierna based on Dr. Ernst Klein’s observations, 25.09.1923. SRA, Marieberg, UD, 1920 års dossiersystem, HP, vol. 1079.
138. Confidential report by the Information Bureau (Laaman) on Ruhnu, 29.08.1923. RA, ERA f. 957, n. 12, s. 360.
139. See M. Kuldkepp. The Estonian Swedish National Minority and the Estonian Cultural Autonomy Law of 1925. – Nationalities Papers, 2022, 50, 5, 923–941. https://doi.org/10.1017/nps.2021.86.
140. Weenofchanās panākta. – Latvis, 02.11.1923; Eesti–Läti lepingud ratifitseeritud. – Vaba Maa, 22.12.1923; Läti valitsus tunnistab Ruhno saare Eesti omaks. – Vaba Maa, 25.11.1923.
141. See R. Brubaker. Nationalism Reframed: Nationhood and the National Question in the New Europe. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996.
