A further issue was the Russian failure to withdraw its troops from Manchuria in October 1903, as it had promised. Japan had begun negotiations to ease the situation in 1901, but the Russian government was slow and uncertain in its replies because it had not yet decided exactly how to resolve the problems.
A different matter involved Russia's delay in withdrawing its troops from Manchuria by October 1903, as it had promised. Japan began negotiations in 1901 to ease tensions, but the Russian government was slow and unsure of its approach due to unresolved problems.