Show ASK FOR DIRECT REPLY japan inquires of russia as to evacuation of manchuria lien fang first secretary ot of the board of foreign affairs visited rus hus elan minister lessar in peking monday and requested information concerning the intentions Intent lona of ithe russian government regarding the evacuation of manchuria minister lessar in reply said that nothing could be done at present with a view to evacuation tor for two reasons in the first place the minister pointed out the cold weather made it impossible to remo remove ve the troops from their present positions besides which there were no barrack accommodations to tie be had bad elsewhere and in the second place he said it would endanger russian interests to undertake evacuation during the progress of the negotiations between russia and japan for the reason that the japanese might seize the opportunity to invade manchuria |