薛福成与中英梅生私运军火一案的交涉

Negotiation Between Xue Fucheng and Britain Foreign Government on the Case of Smuggling Munitions

梅生案是上海、镇江两海关在1891年查获的一起以英国人梅生为首的私运军火案。由于治外法权的存在,该案由上海会审公廨审理,最终的结果是判处梅生九个月监禁。此案显然是重罪轻判,清政府对此判决深为不满,责令当时的驻英大使薛福成就此案与英国外务部进行交涉。经过多次艰难的交涉,梅生最终被驱逐出中国,这在一定程度上维护了中国的尊严,阻止了军火走私的蔓延之势,从而为中国赢得了一个有利的国际、国内环境。

In 1890, Shanghai and Zhenjiang Customs tracked down a case of smuggling munitions led by Mei Sheng. Because of the existence of extraterritoriality, the case was tried by the foreign envoys in China. The final result was only to imprison Mei Sheng for nine months. The Qing Dynasty was very dissatisfied with this result, then ordered Xue to negotiate with Britain foreign government. After the long and difficult negotiation,Mei Sheng was driven out of China, which defended the dignity and interests of China.