Arbitrary decree given in country when close to collapse (5)

I believe the answer is:

ukase

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'arbitrary decree' is the definition.
'ukase' can be an answer for 'decree' (ukase is a kind of decree). I am not certain of the 'arbitrary' bit.

'country when close to collapse' is the wordplay.
'country' becomes 'UK' (United Kingdom).
'when' becomes 'as' (eg 'when I walked' means 'as I walked').
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The last letter of 'collapse' is 'e'.
'uk'+'as'+'e'='UKASE'

'given in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ukase that I've seen before include "Old Russian edict" , "Peremptory command" , "Russian imperial decree" , "Authoritarian decree" , "Legal order" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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