FINANCE Ministry publishes official communication stating that up to July insurrection in Peking and neighbouring provinces had not affected region in which Manchurian Railway is being built. News received at Kharbine that Assistant Governor of Mukden leading insurgents towards Telin; that Yantai coal mines attacked and bridge burned; rumours also current of sack of Roman Catholic Mission at Mukden and of pillage of town. Mobilization of Chinese troops in Northern Manchuria then announced nominally to protect railway. Agitation spreading Ghirin and Tsitsihar, Governors of those places informing railway representatives of inability to answer for troops in case of attack on Russian Colony.

July 7.— Authorities of Mukden, Tsitsihar, and Ghirin proposed to chief Russian engineer to hand over all railway material to Chinese functionaries and quit Manchuria under escort. Engineer refused, quoting terms of Russo-Chinese Treaty for construction of railway, inviting authority of Mukden to exterminate insurgents or to apply to Commander in Chief of Kwang Tung for assistance of friendly Russian nation.

July 8. — News of arrival of Chinese troops in all regions near railway. On 9th engineer and men obliged to withdraw from Telin, and attack expected on several points of line and on Kharbine. Text by post.

Further telegram states on 9th July situation on line from Telin southwards inspired serious apprehensions. Admiral Alexiey applied to for troops and detachment charged to guard line from Russian Kwang Tung frontier to Nikoi. Commanders’ instructions to guard line and telegraph, and abstain from all inimical acts and against Chinese troops and population

11th July.— News from Khabarovsk of encounter between 300 Chinese and sotnia of guarding force. Two Cossacks killed, and many guns and cartridges taken from Chinese.

[Editor’s Note: In order to clarify rumours that were circulating that Russia was proposing to ‘annexe’ Manchuria in response to Chinese attacks on Blagovetchensk at end-July 1900, the St Petersburg ambassador of France, Russia’s ally and financial supporter, asked Minister of War General Kuropatkin about his country’s intentions.]

I had the opportunity to see General Kuropatkin some days ago and persuaded him to explain precisely about the incident which, thanks to the promptness with which it was repudiated, has passed almost unnoticed.