(Communicated.)
A most desirable change has taken plice in the attitude of the Government towards the Boxers. Iv was caused by the murder of the Japanese Secretary which was the subject of an edict on June the 13th, He was attacked and killed outside of Peking, at the Yungting Gate, not far from the Railway Station. The Government also probably acquired new information from the provinces. The Viceroys and Gover-wars have all united in urging the Government not to patronise the Boxers Jon account of their pretending to. be patriots, but to treat them as rebels who ought to be severely punished for their crimes. The edict, however, which for the first time calls the Boxers rebels was not published till the 13th. On the 17th the Taku forts were taken. Had the change in policy been announced sooner, the effect would probably have been to render the ultimatum which prompted the Chinese soldiers in charge of the garrison to tire from being sent at all. The atri of thirty ships of war belonging to eight nations had its effect on the minely of the Government. The change in tone to the Boxers took place before the publication vf the edict of the 13th of June, for in that edict, in describing the Boxers, term chien fei," Boxer rebels", is employed. Yet in that same edict there is allusion to the fruitless embassy of Kang Yiand Chao Shu-chiao to the Boxer leaders at Chochou, seventy miles south-west of the capital, when these two Ministers of State took from the rebels, who are called "Boxers of respectable character," a writ ten guarantee and solemn promise that they would separate and return to their homes. On the 13th of June then the Government still retained their policy, though they called the Boxers rebels in one place in the edict. But on the 15th the edict concerns the capital. The dis+ turbance of peace there had its effects Orders were sent tothe police and military authorities to arrest the disturbers, behead them promptly, and restore order efficiently. The edict names Yung Lu, in addition to Prince Ching and Prince Tuan. All those who have in their hands military authority are ordered to act with decision. There are to be no more half-measures. Every murderer met with, with dangerous weapons in his hands, seeking some victim te owner.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.