[438]. The Novoe Vremya itself declared toward the end of the year 1902 that, contrary to the popular notion that Russia was evacuating Manchuria, she was just beginning to consolidate her influence in that region.
As regards the number of the Russian troops left in Manchuria after the first period of evacuation, we have the following authoritative statement by Count Cassini, Russian Ambassador to the United States: “Faithfully adhering to the terms of her treaty with China respecting Manchuria, she [Russia] had withdrawn the major portion of her troops from that province until between 60,000 and 70,000 only remained.”—The North American Review for May, 1904, pp. 682–683. It is not clear whether this number included the Russian soldiers stationed outside of the Chinese quarters.
[439]. See pp. [144]–145, above.
[440]. China, No. 2 (1904), pp. 38 and 42.
[441]. Ibid., Nos. 72, 74, 75, 111, 112.
[442]. Ibid., Nos. 131, 132.
[443]. Ibid., Nos. 70, 122, 130, 131.
[444]. The Kokumin, May 30, 1904; a Peking correspondence. Also see China, No. 2 (1904), Nos. 44, 46–48, 69, 73, 96, 99, 102, 105, 124.
[445]. China, No. 2 (1904), No. 57, inclosure (Hosie to Satow, November 7, 1902). Also No. 106 (Townley to Lansdowne, May 5, 1903).
[446]. Ibid., No. 128 (Hosie, June 22, 1903).