The _Kokumin_, correspondence, July 27, 1903. Lower down the stream, at Tatung-kao, the amount sometimes reached the annual value of 7,000,000 _taels_. Footnote 564: See an address by Eitaro Tsuruoka, who has recently traveled in Manchuria and is acquainted with several of the leaders of the bandits. The _Dōbun-kwai_, No. 53 (April, 1904), pp. 1–14. Footnote 565: The _Kokumin_, April 23, 1903. The capital of the syndicate was reported to be 5,000,000 rubles, of which 2,000,000 were said to have been furnished by the Russian Government.—_Ibid._, correspondence, June 19, 1903. This rumor was not authenticated. It is safe to say, however, that Baron Gunzburg’s connection with the syndicate was largely nominal. The present writer is not in a position to explain the relation of the notorious M. Bezobrazoff to the timber work on the Yalu. Footnote 566: The _Kokumin_, telegram, May 8 and 9, 1903. Footnote 567: Principally Mt. Paik-ma. Footnote 568: The _Kokumin_, telegram, June 11, correspondence, June 19, 1903. When Japanese soldiers reached Yong-am-po soon after the beginning of the present war, they found there a large warehouse, and fifteen large brick and twenty or more smaller buildings. Rails had been laid between the sea and the warehouse, which was also connected with the Yalu by a new canal. A fort had also been left standing, but the guns had been taken away. Footnote 569: _Ibid._, telegram, May 8 and 9, 1900. Cf. the _British Parliamentary Papers: China, No. 2 (1904)_, Nos. 115, 116, 128, 129, 131, 134. Footnote 570: The _Kokumin_, telegram, May 9, 1903. Footnote 571: _Ibid._, telegram, May 22 and 25, 1903. Footnote 572: The _Kokumin_, telegram, May 16. Footnote 573: _Ibid._, correspondence, May 20. Footnote 574: _Ibid._, telegram, June 13. Footnote 575: _Ibid._, telegram, June 17. Footnote 576: _Ibid._, June 16. Footnote 577: _Ibid._, telegram, June 6. Footnote 578: The _Kokumin_, correspondence, June 19. Footnote 579: See p. 271, above. CHAPTER XVIII THE RUSSO-JAPANESE NEGOTIATIONS, I It was in view of these dangerously unstable circumstances in Manchuria and Korea that, on June 23, 1903, the four principal members of the Japanese Cabinet[580] and five Privy Councilors[581] met before the Throne, and decided on the principles upon which negotiations with Russia should be opened.[582] Having thus formulated the policy to be pursued, Baron Komura telegraphed to the Japanese Minister at St. Petersburg, Mr. Kurino, on July 28, as follows[583]:— [Illustration: BARON KOMURA _Japanese Foreign Minister_ ] “The Imperial Government [of Japan] have observed with close attention the development of affairs in Manchuria, and its present situation causes them to view it with grave concern.