上海租界会审公廨间的权限之争——以1902年《上海租界权限章程》的出台为中心

The Conflict of Jurisdiction between Two Mixed Courts in Shanghai: focused on the conclusion of Provisional Rules for Defining the Respective Jurisdictions of the Mixed Courts of the International and French Settlement in 1902

1902年,法国驻沪领事和上海公共租界工部局就法租界会审公廨和公共租界会审公廨的审判权和传拘权问题爆发了激烈争论。此次权限之争的直接原因是两个会审公廨成立之初均缺乏完备的章程,深层原因是1900年前后英法在华争夺势力范围激化了法国领事和工部局在上海的竞争关系。出于保守的对华外交政策,英国政府不愿与法国直接对抗,这构成英国领事和工部局之间的主要分歧。面对法方的强硬态度,失去英国政府支持工部局的不得不做出让步。最后经各方调停,北京公使团颁布了《上海租界权限章程》。该章程第一次明确了两个会审公廨各自的司法权限,法租界会审公廨正式获得了与公共租界会审公廨同等的地位和对等的权限。

In March 1902,a fierce argument burst between the French Consul and the Municipal Council of the International Settlement on the jurisdictions and summons of the two mixed courts in Shanghai.Finally in June 1902,the Consular Corps issued the Provisional Rules for Defining the Respective Jurisdictions of the Mixed Courts of the International and French Settlement under the sanction of the Diplomatic Corps of Beijing.This regulation redefined the respective jurisdictions of the mixed courts in favor of the French Consul,which left a profound impact on the foreign settlements of Shanghai.Apparently,the reason for the outbreak of the conflict was due to the lack of adequate regulations at the inception of the two mixed courts.But the underlying cause was deeply rooted in the changes of international relationship around1900.The conflict on the jurisdiction of the mixed court reflected the different considerations of Britain and France on the scramble for the spheres of influence in China,as well as a wide divergence in British foreign policy towards China between the British government and the Shanghai Municipal Council.