英国与中日“二十一条”交涉

Britain's Negotiations with China and Japan over the "Twenty-one Demands"

日本对华提出"二十一条"要求后,在向英国通报时,刻意隐瞒了第五号要求。英国确认第五号要求存在后,最初认为其或系作为谈判筹码而提出,但很快改变了看法,认为第五号要求并非"愿望"。英国向日本提出两条建议,一是如果日本对华所提要求损害英国在华利益,必须先与英国协商;二是日本不得违背英日同盟的宗旨。在英国的干预下,日本决定暂缓对华提出第五号要求。由于一战时期深陷欧洲战场,英国无力东顾,不愿中日间发生战争。日本向中国提出最后通牒后,英国一方面说服日本不要诉诸武力,一方面力劝中国接受最后通牒。维护英国在华利益,是英国斡旋中日"二十一条"交涉的根本目的。

After Japan handed the Twenty-one Demands to China,it sent a notification to Britain in which the fifth demand was deliberately concealed.Having confirmed the existence of the fifth demand,Britain initially understood it as a Japanese bargaining chip,but quickly changed its approach,ceasing to regard the fifth demand as an'aspiration.'Britain made two proposals to Japan:first,if Japan's demands on China would harm Britain's interests there,Japan must first consult with Britain;and second,Japan should not contravene the intentions of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.The British intervention made Japan decide to suspend the fifth demand to China.Britain was deeply involved in the European theater during the First World War,so was unable to spare energy for events in the east.It did not wish to see war between China and Japan,so after Japan's ultimatum to China,it persuaded Japan not to resort to force while at the same time urging China to accept the ultimatum.Safeguarding Britain's interests in China was the fundamental purpose of Britain's mediation between China and Japan on the Twenty-one Demands.