After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, China and Japan signed the treaty of shimonoseki, which stipulated that Liaodong Peninsula should be ceded to Japan. Japan pursued the "mainland policy" of annexing Korea and invading China. In this way, there is a sharp contradiction with Russia's "Far East Policy" of invading China and dominating the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, it also threatened the interests of Germany, France and other European and American countries in China, causing dissatisfaction between France and Germany. In order to obtain an ice-free port and control the northeast of China, Russia joined forces with France and Germany to put pressure on Japan. The practice was that Dalian Railway Station and warships of the three countries sailed to the Sea of Japan at the same time, and the envoys of the three countries in Japan negotiated with the Japanese government, demanding that Japan return the Liaodong Peninsula to China, and made a gesture that Japan would go to war if it did not agree. Unable to fight against the Three Kingdoms, Japan had to return Liaodong Peninsula to China, but demanded that China pay 50 million taels of silver. After Russian mediation, China finally paid 30 million taels of Japanese silver to redeem Liaodong Peninsula. This is the "triple intervention" in history.
Shortly after Japan was forced to return to Liao, Russia made a request to China to borrow land to build roads under the pretext of "returning meritorious service to Liao". After being rejected by the Qing government in China, the Russian government's diplomatic envoys in China pestered many times, saying that only when China meets Russia's demands can Russia protect China from conflicts with other countries, such as Japan. After China once again rejected Russia's unreasonable demands, Russia said that if the demands of the Russians were not met, it would have serious consequences for China. At that time, the Qing government also wanted to form an alliance with Russia to deal with Japan. Russia closely linked the Sino-Russian alliance with borrowing land to build roads, and pressed hard. Previously, because Russia helped China to force Japan to return to Liaodong Peninsula, there was a saying in the Qing government that as long as Russia helped China, it could resist Japan. Someone put forward the slogan of "governing foreign countries with foreign countries". Empress Dowager Cixi once said that she should try her best to please foreigners who have helped our country and let the whole world know her kindness to China.
1896, Russian emperor Nicholas II held a coronation ceremony, and the Qing government was prepared to send personnel to congratulate him. Russia refused to send a candidate and asked Li Hongzhang to go by name. Li arrived in St. Petersburg on April 30 and met with Russian Finance Minister Wade on May 6 and 2. On May 3rd, Li Hongzhang held formal talks with Wade. Trans-siberian railway's request to cross the northeast of China was rejected by Li. On May 4th, the Russian emperor met with Li Hongzhang, and then on May 6th, he raised the issue of Manchuria Railway. Earlier, on April 30th, Weng Tong, Director General of China, met with Russian Ambassador to China Cacchini. Weng turned down Russia's request to borrow land to build roads, and Cacchini was rude, saying that if China didn't want to establish diplomatic relations with Russia, Russia would contact Japan and find another way out. On May 8, Li Hongzhang held talks with Russian Foreign Ministers Luo Banov and Wade on the Sino-Russian secret treaty. On May 13, Li Hongzhang telegraphed the draft Sino-Russian Secret Treaty to the General Administration. /kloc-In May of 0/4, Li Hongzhang called the General Administration and advocated accepting the Russian treaty. On the same day, the General Administration sent a telegram to Li. /kloc-In May of 0/9, Li Hongzhang went to Moscow. On June 3rd, Li Hongzhang signed six Sino-Russian secret agreements with Luo Banov and Wade, stipulating that the two countries would jointly defend Japan and Russia, and Russia would build railways in Heilongjiang and Jilin. It is said that Li Hongzhang accepted a bribe of 3 million rubles (about 265438+ two million and two thousand silver) from Russia.
Li Hongzhang signed a secret treaty of losing power and land, called the Treaty of Mutual Assistance against the Enemy. The treaty * * * has six contents. Most of Russia's assistance to China is expected, empty or possible, and the benefits Russia has gained are real. For example, including a railway crossing the northeast of China, China is required to provide land for road construction, and the land price is not paid. On September 8th of the same year, Xu Jingcheng, Minister of Qing Government in Russia, and Ukh Toschi, Chairman of Dawson Bank of Russia, formally signed the Articles of Association of Sino-Russian Joint Venture Oriental Railway Company in Berlin. The Qing government invested 5 million taels of silver, and both sides organized commercial enterprises. The contract stipulates that:
1. On the railway lease term, Russia asked for a long-term lease, but China refused, changing it to 80 years, and allowing China to redeem it at any time after 36 years of operation.
2. Railway gauge. Russia insisted on the wide rail with the same gauge 1.524mm in its own country, but China argued with it fruitlessly and later agreed.
3. China insisted that Russia formally promised not to transport soldiers into Manchuria, and later changed to transport soldiers, and trains passing through Manchuria were not allowed to stop halfway.
Dong Qing Railway was named as a Sino-Russian joint venture, but after Russia won the right to build roads, the articles of association of the Eastern Railway Company were unilaterally promulgated in 1896 and 10. 1March, 89713rd, Middle East Railway Company was established. In August of the same year, 16 Dong Qing Railway started construction. The railway takes Harbin as the center, Suifenhe in the east and Manzhouli *** 184 1 km in the west. Formerly known as "Dong Qing Railway", also known as "Eastern Railway", it is the first stage of building Dong Qing Railway.
However, at this stage, relying solely on railways is not the purpose. The Russians declared that the construction of this railway was a "world event" and regarded it as a "tool to strengthen the Russian Pacific fleet", enabling Russia to control all military and commercial activities in the Pacific waters. In this way, it is necessary to build this railway leading to Lushunkou and Dalian. Russia is also looking for opportunities to lease Lushunkou and Dalian. The opportunity will come soon. 1897, 1 1 In June, 2008, Germany occupied JIAOZHOU Bay on the pretext of "Cao Zhou Incident" in Shandong. 12 15 Russia invaded Lushunkou under the guise of "China is not subject to German aggression". 1On March 3rd, 898, Russia formally proposed to China to lease Luda as a naval base, and threatened China at the same time. Under the pressure of Russia, the Qing government was forced to sign the Land Lease Treaty of Lvda on March 27th 1898, and leased Lushun and Dalian Port to the Russian emperor for 25 years. It is also required to build the Dong Qing railway trunk line from Harbin to Lushun and Dalian, which is called Nanman branch line. In April of the same year, the two sides signed six contracts, demanding that the industrial and commercial interests such as roads and mines in this area should not be transferred to other countries without Russia's permission. In June, the two sides renewed the contract for the Dong Qing railway branch line, which gave Russia the right to rotate freely between land and water, mining rights and logging rights along the railway.