Editing History of Finland (section)

===Diplomacy===
Finland became member of the [[League of Nations]] on 16 December 1920.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/naineduskuntatoimii/kirjasto/aineistot/yhteiskunta/suomi-valtiona/Pages/Suomen-valtiokehityksen-historiaa.aspx|title=The history of the development of statehood in Finland|publisher=[[Parliament of Finland]]|access-date=13 December 2022|archive-date=23 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023215401/https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/naineduskuntatoimii/kirjasto/aineistot/yhteiskunta/suomi-valtiona/Pages/Suomen-valtiokehityksen-historiaa.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The new republic faced a dispute over the [[Åland|Åland Islands]], which were overwhelmingly Swedish-speaking and sought retrocession to Sweden. However, as Finland was not willing to cede the islands, they were offered an autonomous status. Nevertheless, the residents did not approve the offer, and the dispute over the islands was submitted to the League of Nations. The League decided that Finland should retain sovereignty over the Åland Islands, but they should be made an autonomous province. Thus Finland was under an obligation to ensure the residents of Åland a right to maintain the [[Swedish language]], as well as their own culture and local traditions. At the same time, an international treaty was concluded on the neutral status of Åland, under which it was prohibited to place military headquarters or forces on the islands.