9th June, 'THE war in South Africa has brought "slimness" into English dictionaries, and this quality stands out conspicuonsly in the Imperial decree which we publish this morning. The object of it, of course, is to prove to the Legations that the Government is determined to suppress the Boxers, while, at the same time, the Boxers, who are really favoured by the Government, must not be seriously offended. Accordingly, the decree begins by praising the missionaries, but regretting that a great nun-ber of men of bad character have joined the Christian churches, which, of course, is an excuse for the attacks of the Boxers. Then it is stated that the Boxers' original object was a laudable one, to defend themselves and their homes and villages from attacks by the bad Christians; but unfortunately, evil-minded men have joined their ranks, which cannot be permitted. And so a well-known reactionary, Chao Shu-chiao, is sent to investigate; the Boxers are not to be put down at once, lest the innocent should suffer with the guilty; but if after this warning the lawless ruffians, and militia men and revolutionaries continue their work of pillage and destruction, the regular troops will be sent against them and they will be crushed. This is hardly a decree with which we can expect our Representatives to be satisfied.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.