1893 A Russian squadron under Admiral Avelan visits Toulon.
1894 A military convention, arranged by the military authorities of Russia and France, is ratified. Death of Alexander III and accession of Nicholas II.
1895 An Anglo-Russian convention is signed settling the disputes as to the Pamirs. Russia, in conjunction with Germany and France, forces Japan to revise the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki by giving up the Liao-tung peninsula. Russia obtains the right to carry the Siberian railway across Chinese territory from Stretensk to Vladivostok, thus avoiding a long detour, besides getting control of North Manchuria.
1896 Coronation of the czar at Moscow. Catastrophe on the Khodinski plain. The emperor visits Germany, Austria, England, and France.
1897 President Faure makes an official visit to St. Petersburg, and the term “alliance” is for the first time used in the complimentary speeches. Specie payment is established.
1898 Russia leases Port Arthur and Talienwan, and obtains leave to carry a branch of the Trans-Siberian line through Manchuria to the sea. An imperial decree declares that the powers of the Finnish diet are to be limited to matters of strictly local, not imperial, concern. General Bobrikov is appointed Governor-general of Finland.
1899 During the Boxer uprising the Chinese authorities in Manchuria declare war against Russia. The Russian authorities retaliate with the massacre of Blagovestchensk. Russia assumes the civil and military administration of Manchuria. Peace Conference held at the Hague.
1900 The Bank of Persian Loans is founded by the Russian government.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
1901 The state monopoly in the manufacture and sale of spirits is extended to the whole empire.