The article examines attempts at administrative reorganization of the Chinese Eastern Railway after the conclusion of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty of 1905. The military high rank officers sought to maintain control over the road and intended to restore the lost positions in the region. The formal reason for this could be the transportation of goods and troops, ensuring the road safety, but at the base it was a desire to return the undermined influence on the Far Eastern affairs. The materials of the Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA) reflect the struggle on this issue among the military and political elites. After the defeat and the conclusion of the Portsmouth Peace, the definition of the further strategy seemed to be the prerogative of civilian agencies (the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), not the military, but this did not happen because of the resistance of the military. Minister of Finance V.N. Kokovtsov did neither plan to renounce the influence on the Far Eastern affairs, nor to entrust the control of the border guard in Manchuria to the military. Quite a logical move by the minister was an indication of foreign policy obligations as a fundamental principle. For a short time, in the conditions of the Duma monarchy in Russia, local governmental structures appeared in Harbin and a part of the settlements. New internal political conditions of the Duma monarchy and preparation for war in Europe forced the government to adjust the goals and objectives in the Far East. The projects, which were discussed by the Russian government, for the Russian order were quite liberal at the beginning of the 20th century. Russian population did not receive additional privileges, and the state authorities of Russia did not officially participate in the formation of public administration. It gave the complete dependence of the Society of the CER from the Ministry of Finance.