领事裁判权的历史渊源和历史作用——关于《“治外法权”起缘》一文相关论点的驳议

Historical Origin and Role of Consular Jurisdiction:Refuting the relevant views in ‘Origin of extraterritoriality’

前不久,有文章旧事重提,对德兰诺瓦案和其他一些所谓的史实作了一些别有用心的解释,企图在历史渊源和历史作用两方面找到根据,为臭名昭著的领事裁判权翻案,目的是要说明领事裁判权能够调节中西不同法律层次,填平最关键的价值差距即对生命和人权的不同理解,能将"野蛮、落后"的中国法律推向近代化,加快中西方交流,有利于引进外资,对于中国是一件幸运的事情。为此,我们再次认真地梳理了相关史料和研究成果,更加确信了如下史实:1821年美国商船意大利籍船员德兰诺瓦杀害中国妇女,在案件审理过程中,美方以种种不端行径,干扰中方正常的司法活动。后来,在与清政府订立不平等条约时,美方借口中国法律"野蛮、落后",提出领事裁判权的无理要求,这是彻头彻尾的侵略行径。在百余年的近代历史上,领事裁判权严重破坏中国司法主权,严重妨害司法公正,扼杀中国社会内部对法律变革的要求,对于中国的自主开放改革和现代化建设弊害多端。因此,想用德兰诺瓦案和近代历史作用来为领事裁判权翻案是行不通的。

A recent paper attempted to re-account tor the Terranova Case in 1821 with an ulterior motive so as to reverse the correct verdict of the notorious consular jurisdiction in terms of the historical origin and historical role. That is, the paper tried to content that there exist a judicial difference between the east and the west,the purpose of which is to fill up the key value gap by advocating an alternative understanding of life and human right,which could,as claimed, push forward the then ＂barbarous and backward＇China,as a lucky thing,to accelerate the communication and to import foreign capital. The present author read once again the relevant historical records and researches with care and confirms the following view： the Italian seaman called Francis Terranova working in an American business ship Emily slaughtered a Chinese woman. During the process of trial, the American side interfered the Chinese judicial activities by all dishonest means. While making unequal trea- ty with the Qing Government later,they took the pretext that Chinese law was ＂barbarous and backward＂ and put forward the unjustifiable requirements of consular jurisdiction, which is apparently an invasion behavior. In fact, during the over past 100 years, consular jurisdiction has severely damaged the Chinese judicial sovereignty,impaired the i udicial justice, smothered the legal reform in the Chinese society and hence caused numerous harms to the judicial modernization. Therefore, it is not al- lowed to reverse consular jurisdiction by using the Terranova Case.