两司与清末外交

Roles of Administrative Commissioner and Provincial Judge in Diplomacy of the late Qing Dynasty

清末,随着西方列强对中国侵略的步步深入,地方官员办理外交事务者逐渐增多,并且范围不断扩大,进而两司发展为近代中国独特的地方交涉机关。两司作为地方行政事务的主管机构,在地方外交事务中发挥了重要作用。清政府利用两司办理外交事务,既能贯彻其外交在外的行政方针,又能满足其天朝上国的虚骄心理,更解决了地方无外交机构的弊端。

The late Qing Dynasty, with the Western powers aggression against China in depth step by step, saw gradual increase in local officials dealing with foreign affairs, then leading to establishment of local authorities with Chinese unique characteristics administrative commissioner and provincial judge. As the authorities in charge of local administrative affairs, they play an important role in the course. They can both carry out diplomatic and administrative policy by Qing government, and satisfy the rulers＇ superficial and conceited feelings, eliminating the defect of no diplomatic institution at the local level.