THE SITUATION AT NIUGHWANG. 313 



troops into Manchuria " ; and though repeated pledges 

 were given that such occupation was only a tem- 

 porary measure, and a Convention was signed in April 

 1902 regulating the gradual evacuation of the country, 

 the temptation to retain the port which was of such 

 vital importance to their schemes was found when 

 the time came to be too strong for Russian states- 

 men, and, in spite of diplomatic pressure brought to 

 bear by Great Britain and other Powers interested 

 in the matter, the curtain which rose on the drama 

 of 1904 displayed to the world the too familiar scene 

 of Russia in triumphant possession of the stage — 

 superbly contemptuous of the injured protestations of 

 her vanquished rivals at the sheaves of dishonoured 

 promises and engagements, at the expense of which 

 she had secured her position. She had yet to learn 

 that a little Power had risen in the East, which, by 

 standing firm to its word and refusing to throw down 

 its hand before Russian bluff, proved itself a match 

 for Russian duplicity. And the lesson has not yet 

 been completed. 



The situation at Niuchwang at the time of the com- 

 mencement of hostilities has been accurately summed 

 up by Mr H. Fulford Bush, in a paper read before 

 the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, as follows : "A 

 Russian administrator, backed by Russian troops, in 

 place of the Chinese authorities ; the custom-house, 

 with the Russian administrator at its local head ; the 

 revenue paid into the Russo- Chinese Bank, pending 

 Russia's settlement with China ; the sanitary control 

 Russian, in all matters affecting the Chinese ; Russian 

 prestige and power paramount ; the province a prey 

 to the brigands and riffraff generally ; the usual trade 

 channels impeded and obstructed by the confusion and 

 disruption prevailing throughout the province ; and a 



