55 Days at Peking Page #3

Good night.

Unfortunately, Sir Arthur,

I must return

to my duties at the palace.

No need to escort me.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the next dance will be a waltz.

- Aword, Sir Arthur.

- This is an insult to the British

and a challenge

to all Powers!

Areport

will reach the Kaiser.

Her Majesty's Government

is not alarmed by this

Boxer invasion of its Embassy.

I shall complain

to the Chinese ministry.

What will you do, Sir Arthur?

I intend to have

a glass of champagne.

You know,

I admire Sir Arthur.

He makes me think

that God must be an Englishman.

We go and we go

and we don't get anywhere.

Why not head back to the hotel?

- Are you tired, Major?

- Tired? No.

Ready to turn in? Maybe.

Ever been

inside this temple?

Wed get a better drink

at the hotel.

Very interesting.

Can we go now?

But we havent

had our dance yet.

Shall we?

What'll you do

in Tientsin?

I'll be entirely

in your hands.

You are now but you keep

slipping through my fingers.

I think Ill get you to take me

to San Francisco with you.

Why to San Francisco?

It s where

they found all the gold.

Just a minute.

What s that trinket worth?

A lot of money.

We won t leave today. They've

killed the German Minister.

But Matt, we must leave...

I have to leave.

You have to wait.

Your sword, Sir Arthur.

You are well, Sir Arthur?

If you are, Your Majesty.

- We are pleased to receive you.

- It s an honour,

Your Majesty.

We have been informed

of the German Minister s death.

The Boxers

will be punished.

But the people s anger

cannot be quieted so easily.

The Germans

have seized Kiaochow,

the Russians Port Arthur.

The French have obtained

concessions in Yunnan,

Kwangsi and Kwangtung.

In all, thirteen of the

eighteen provinces of China

are under

foreign control.

Warships occupy our harbors,

foreign armies

fill our forts,

foreign merchants

administer our banks,

foreign gods disturb

the spirits of our ancestors.

Is it surprising

our people are aroused?

Please allow me to observe

that Boxer violence cannot

redress China s grievances.

China is a prostrate cow!

The Powers are

butchering her for her meat.

If China is a cow, she is

indeed a marvellous animal

that gives

both meat and milk,

but at the same time

grows stronger.

She learns

Western arts of peace.

But China s greatest virtue

is her patience.

If she exercises that now,

she will achieve everything.

And if not?

If not,

if violence

and impatience prevail,

the blood of millions

will be shed

and the agony be prolonged.

Go to the window, Sir Arthur.

Ive arranged something

for you to see.

Please inform

your government

that Chinese justice

is swift and thorough.

Those men murdered the

German Minister this morning.

Where lies the guilt?

With he who wields the sword

or who gives the command?

You know

who gave the command?

With your permission,

I d like to present

an eyewitness.

By all means,

Sir Arthur.

Major Lewis, Your Majesty.

Evidently, Major, you possess

secret information

about the Boxer leadership.

It s not much

of a secret.

Please go on, Major Lewis.

I saw the Boxer

commander this morning.

The one who had

the Minister killed.

You would know him?

It was Prince Tuan.

You believe this story?

I do, Your Majesty.

And you ask us to take

action against Prince Tuan?

Ive come here

with the truth

now known by the German

government and the other Powers.

We reject your truth.

And your protest.

We are pleased

to inform you that Prince Tuan

is our closest adviser.

He now heads

the Foreign Office.

For our part, Great Britain

wants nothing more

than continued

friendship with China.

Because of the drought,

the hunger and the unrest

among my people,

of the merciless demands

of the foreign powers,

the situation in Peking cannot

be expected to become tranquil.

Therefore we

earnestly advise you

that all foreign residents,

including diplomatic personnel,

should leave Peking

within twenty-four hours.

Is Your Majesty informing me

that she is severing

all diplomatic relations?

Not at all.

Her Majesty

was clear enough.

She is offering informal

advice for your safety

and protection.

- I am in favour of that.

- Major.

She can't control the Boxers.

We d better get out.

Prince Tuan,

you will see

that these gentlemen

are escorted safely

to their Legations.

We d do better

on our own.

- Do we walk?

- Yes, very slowly.

Keep walking.

Squad!

Double time.

- Thought you d need some help.

- Thank you.

Count the votes.

We're awaiting

the American Minister.

Oh, Mr. Maxwell.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Sorry to have

got you up,

but we need your vote,

on staying in Peking or not.

The United States have no

territorial concessions in China.

Nor are we interested.

I d better abstain, Sir Arthur.

I understand, Mr. Maxwell.

I just wanted you to be here.

Congratulations, gentlemen.

It's unanimous.

Nine votes

in favour of evacuation.

Great Britain

has decided to stay.

Alone if necessary.

That s not possible.

We d look ridiculous

if we left

the British alone in Peking.

Perhaps Britain

has its reasons

for being the only

foreign power in Peking.

Our friend is right.

They may have

secret reports.

Ive made it

completely clear.

Admiral Sydney

is on his way

with several thousand men.

Hell be here

in 9 or 10 days.

Meanwhile, I refuse

to worry about

the Boxers giving

a victory to Prince Tuan.

Then the Germans stay too.

Sir Arthur,

we Spaniards

fulfill our obligations.

There s no word for

flight in our dictionary.

We feel obliged to protect

the civilians who depend on us.

I recognize

that obligation, Guzmn,

and I believe

that if we stand united

the Chinese

won't dare to attack

the representatives

of 11 great Powers.

If we stand firm,

there'll be peace in China

and in the whole world.

Spain is with you.

If the other Powers stay,

so will Austria.

Congratulations, Sir Arthur.

The British win

another bloodless victory.

I take it Youve

unanimously decided to stay?

I shall report that

the first vote was9 to 1

and that in a friendly spirit

it was then decided

to make

the decision unanimous.

Well, then I suggest

we call in the military.

This way, gentlemen.

Colonel Shiba

will give the report.

As to the military aspects,

we have agreed that

with fewer than 400 men,

to defend

a 2-mile perimeter,

the position is untenable.

We recommend

immediate evacuation.

For political reasons the

Ministers say we must remain.

So you must defend

the area until Admiral Sydney s

forces arrive.

Sir, what if the relief

column doesnt make it?

It s over 70 miles

through hostile territory.

Well consider

that situation when it arises.

We have 5 defense sectors.

The wall defended

by the Germans and Americans,

the west end,

the British Legation,

the Fu, held by

the Americans and Japanese,

and the east end, held

by the Italians and French.

- Boxers?

- Yes.

- Where the hell are they?

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