Russia allowed the question of the indemnity in Manchuria to be dealt with at the general conferences at Peking together with the indemnity respecting North China. In the matter of the punishment of guilty local officials, from the discussion of which Russia abruptly withdrew herself, the representatives of the other Powers included Manchuria in their consideration. Footnote 329: _China, No. 2 (1904)_, No. 5 (January 4, 1901). Sir Charles Scott, Ambassador at St. Petersburg, reported on January 5, that it appeared to be generally believed there that “some provisional agreement, such as that indicated, had been concluded by Russia with the local authorities in Manchuria, and that she might eventually acquire by treaty the right to finish building the railway line through Manchuria to Port Arthur, and to protect it herself, the rights of the Russo-Chinese Company being transferred to the Russian Government.”—_Ibid._, No. 4. Footnote 330: The London _Times_, January 3, 1901, p. 3. In this and other reports Dr. Morrison seems to have translated from Chinese texts. Footnote 331: The Russian _Official Messenger_ of April 6, 1901, stated that “temporary agreements in writing (_modus vivendi_) respecting the reëstablishment of the local civil administration in the _three Provinces_ of Manchuria were, before all else, concluded between the Russian military authorities and the Chinese tsian-tsiouns [Generals] of the three Provinces.”—_China, No. 2 (1904)_, p. 22. Footnote 332: _China, No. 2 (1904)_, No. 5 (January 4). Footnote 333: The Tartar General Tsêng-chi was degraded for this offense, but Russia succeeded in reinstating him.—_The Times_, February 20, 1901, p. 5. Footnote 334: _China, No. 2 (1904)_, No. 8. Footnote 335: _Ibid._, No. 13 (February 13). Footnote 336: The opinion of the German Government was that China “should not conclude with any Power individual treaties of a territorial or financial character _before_ they can estimate their obligations toward all the Powers as a whole, and _before_ the compliance with such obligations is accepted.”—_Ibid._, Nos. 12, 13. Footnote 337: _Ibid._, No. 19 (February 19). What action the remaining Powers took is not shown in the Blue Books. Austria-Hungary and Italy are said to have also protested. Footnote 338: _China, No. 2 (1901)._ Footnote 339: _China, No. 2 (1901)._ Footnote 340: _China, No. 2 (1904)_, No. 6. CHAPTER X A “STARTING-POINT”—THE LAMSDORFF-YANG-YU CONVENTION