ABSTRACT
The Peking protocol was signed on 7 September. In accordance with it, the allied troops evacuated the Forbidden City ten days later. Within a month the Chinese court left Sian in order to return to Peking. These factors all seemed to foreshadow a new attitude on the part of the Chinese. The move to Sian had been presented as a visit of inspection to one of the provinces; while the court was there, it made frequent calls for 'no surrender'. For it to have accepted the protocol and to have embarked on the homeward journey so quickly seemed to be a hopeful sign. In fact, however, the court took its time over the return in the manner of a medieval circuit and did not reach the capital till 7 January 1902. 1
