美国的海洋自由观及其对1856年《巴黎宣言》的反应

America’s Idea Concerning the Freedom of the Seas and Its Response to The Declaration of Paris of 1856

在1856年《巴黎宣言》的形成过程中,为推动国际海洋法朝着有利于自身利益的方向发展,美国国务卿威廉·马西两次发表外交照会阐述美方立场,并发起了争取整个“文明世界”承认美国界定的自由中立权利的缔约运动和修改《巴黎宣言》的尝试。这一系列外交活动终因美国不肯放弃武装私掠权而宣告失败,并导致美国陷入国际孤立。所谓的“马西修正案”表达了一种带有理想主义色彩,但本质上是实用主义和利己主义的海洋自由观,它也因此不能使美国摆脱国际孤立。从全球史视角和全球海洋治理史的层面考察,皮尔斯—马西对《巴黎宣言》的政策成效值得进一步探讨。

Aiming at promoting the development of the international maritime law in favor of its own interests,President Franklin Pierce's Administration sent two diplomatic notes issued by William Marcy,Secretary of State,to declare America's standpoint during the making of The Declaration of Paris of 1856.This triggered the treaty campaign to attain the recognition from the whole‘civilized world’for the liberal neutral rights defined by the United States.However,the U.S.determined not to give up its armed privateering,which accordingly resulted in the failure of the treaty campaign and the international isolation of the U.S.The Marcy Amendment expressed an idea concerning the freedom of the seas which was pragmatic and self-interested essentially,though had an idealistic appearance.Accordingly,this cannot help the U.S.overcome its international isolation.From the perspective of the global history,the problem and progressiveness of Pierce-Marcy's policy on The Declaration of Paris of 1856 merit further examination and contemplation.