684 Mr. A. Henry Savage Landor, [May 31, 



city, with all its palaces — that nest of infamy and corruption, where 

 the plans for the massacre of foreigners in China had been conceived 

 and organised — was respected and protected. 



Eussians, British, Japanese, Americans and French were left 

 to guard each of the four gates, but for two whole weeks — until 

 August 28th — the Forbidden city was left untouched and closed. 

 The result ? 



The Chinese naturally concluded that we were afraid to take it, 

 that we felt our inferiority, and therefore did not dare trespass on this 

 sacred ground. Humours spread that foreign devils were not strong 

 enough to take the palace ; that when we had reached the gates we 

 were unable to go further. Hence, within the ten days after our entry 

 into Pekin, several American, French and Russian soldiers were 

 murdered by Chinese, while peaceably going about the streets. 



The Boxers in the neighbourhood of Pekin, encouraged by what 

 they believed to be our lack of courage and strength, again became 

 threatening. 



It was then decided by the Foreign Representatives, that a suit- 

 able way of maintaining our prestige and of giving China a lesson 

 would be to make a formal entry into the Forbidden city, and that 

 the entry should take the form of an International procession. Only 

 one small detachment of each Power would be allowed to march 

 through the Forbidden grounds, each nation to be represented by a 

 number of men in proportion to the number of troops despatched for 

 the relief of Pekin. 



I immediately called on General Barrow (British) to obtain per- 

 mission to acconrpany the British troops on this triumphant march. 

 The general was not approachable, but referred me to an officer, who 

 said that permits would be issued to no British subjects. A great 

 mystery was made about the whole affair, and it seemed that it was 

 the intention of the authorities to have the whole performance " on 

 the sly," as it were. 



The American general was no better than the British, and when 

 interviewed by an American correspondent is reported to have struck 

 a stage attitude and exclaimed : " There are things in this world that 

 are sacred ! The Imperial Palace is one of them ! " He would see 

 non-military men anywhere rather than let them into the palace to 

 see the show. 



Personally, fortune attended me. An invitation was given me to 

 ride into the palace with General Linievitch, who, being the senior 

 general, would be the first foreigner to enter the Forbidden city. 



"Be here at 7.30 to-morrow morning, for I shall start at 8 to 

 review the International troops," said General Linievitch, as I thanked 

 him for his kindness. 



When morning came I rode briskly to the Russian Legation, 

 reaching it an hour, or even two, before the time appointed. 



1 was cordially received by the general and his staff, and we 

 eventually started on our horses. We entered the first courtyard. 



