Measures to Consolidate and Secure the Far East

On December 31^st, 1853 the Emperor Nikolay I granted Muravyov the right to conduct the negotiations with the Chinese regarding the establishment of the border between two countries along the Amur River, and transportation of troops to the Amur estuary.

In 1854–1858, Muravyov assisted Gennady Nevelskoy to achieve that goal. The first expedition took place in May 1854. The fleet of 77 barges and rafts, led by the Argun steamship, sailed down to the Amur estuary. Due to the Crimean War, a portion of the fleet was then sent to Avacha Bay in Kamchatka, where artillery batteries were installed to defend the peninsula. The batteries played a major role in defending the town of Petropavlovsk, which was attacked by English and French forces.

The 1855's expedition transported the first Russian settlers to the Amur estuary. At that time Muravyov started negotiations with the Manchurians.

During the last expedition of 1858, Muravyov concluded with the Manchurians the Aigun Treaty. They were initially against of setting any kinds of boundaries along the Amur River, preferring the status quo of keeping the adjacent territories under joint control of Russia and Manchuria.

However Muravyov was able to persuade the Manchurians that intentions of Russia were peaceful and constructive. The result of the Aigun Treaty was the most convenient natural boundary between Russia and Manchuria and free access of Russia to the Pacific Ocean. For such success in negotiations, Muravyov was granted the title of Count Amursky (i.e., "of the Amur River"). The signing of the treaty was celebrated by grandiose illumination in Beijing and festivities in major Siberian cities. The new territories acquired by Russia included Priamurye, Sakhalin, and most of the territories of modern Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories.

The Treaty of Aigun was confirmed and expanded by the Treaty of Beijing signed in 1860, which granted Russia the right to the Ussuri Territory and southern parts of Primorye.

Muravyov-Amursky made numerous attempts to settle the banks of the Amur River. Those attempts were mostly unsuccessful as very few people wanted to move to the Amur voluntarily. Muravyov had to transfer several Baikal Cossacks detachments to populate the area. Also unsuccessful were attempts to organize steamboat transportation along the Amur and to build a postal road.

As the main objection of the St. Petersburg officials against taking over the left bank of the Amur was lack of people to defend the new territories, Muravyov-Amursky successfully petitioned to free Nerchinsk peasants from mandatory works in the ore mines. A 12,000 Amur Cossacks’ corps consisited of those people was used to settle some of the lands. They were transferred from the Transbaikalia.

Muravyov-Amursky retired from his post of Governor - General in 1861 after his proposal to divide Eastern Siberia into two separate Governorates was declined. He was appointed a member of the State Council.

In 1868, he moved to Paris, France, where he lived until he died of gangrene in 1881, visiting Russia only occasionally to participate in the State Council meetings.

6. Answer the following questions:

• What rights did the Emperor Nikolay I grant Muravyov in 1853?

• What kinds of vessels did the first expedition consist of?

• Did the batteries play major role in defending the city of Petropavlovsk?

• What was the result of the negotiations with China?

• Why were the attempts to settle the Far East unsuccessful?

• How did Muravyov-Amursky solve the problem of people’s resources for the settlement?

• Why was Muravyov-Amursky retired from his post of Governor-General?

• Where and how did he die?

• Why do residents of the Far East remember about this person?

7. Translate into Russian sentences with the key vocabulary.

8. Complete the following sentences:

• N. Muravyov assisted G. Nevelskoy to transport troops to the Amur's estuary because …

a) it was not his duty

b) he had to solve other important questions

c) the captain couldn’t fulfill it independently

• A portion of the fleet was then sent to Kamchatka's Avacha Bay due to….

a) G. Nevelskoy ordered to do it

b) The Emperor orderedN. Muravyov to do it

c) N. Muravyov realized the danger from the foreign powers

• The Chinese were initially against setting any kinds of boundaries along the Amur River as….

a) they distrusted Russian government

b) wanted to save a buffer zone

c) followed the policy of self-isolation

• Muravyov was granted the title of Count Amursky for….

a) skillful negotiations with China

b) his exploration of the Amur River

c) determination of the border between two countries

• Cossacks were transferred from the Transbaikalia because ….

a) the Baikal area was bordering on the Amur area

b) Cossacks from Transbaikalia were the only military forces in the east of Russia

c) they were the most experienced in development of new lands.