西方列强与苏报案关系述论

The Western Powers and the Subao Case

苏报案发生后,经过反复外交交涉,案件最终在上海公共租界会审公廨审理,章太炎、邹容分别被判三年和两年监禁,龙积之等四人无罪释放。这是清政府与列强、上海租界等各种政治力量反复博弈的结果,也是英美等列强直接干预的结果。英国态度最为强硬,干预程度最深,坚决反对将章太炎等人移交给清政府,法、俄支持清政府,美国一度模棱两可。在英国斡旋下,列强最后达成一致。苏报案的交涉过程,实际上是列强之间的较量过程。

The Subao Case (苏报, a Shanghai-based newspaper published during 1896-1903) was finally handed to the Mixed Court of the Shanghai International Settlement after repeated diplomatic representations by the Qing government. Zhang Taiyan and Zou Rong were sentenced to three and two years of imprisonment respectively, while Long Jizhi and three others were released as innocent. This was the outcome of repeated moves by the Qing government in its contest with various political forces including the Western powers and their Shanghai settlements, and also of the direct intervention of the Western powers led by Great Britain and the United States. Britain, which showed the most uncompromising attitude and intervened most forcefully, strongly objected to handing Zhang Taiyan and others involved over to the Qing government. France and Russia supported the government, while the American attitude was ambiguous for some time. British efforts at coordination led to a final consensus among the powers. The process of negotiation over the Subao Case was actually a test of strength among the Western powers.