英国与袁世凯复辟帝制关系研究:1915—1916

Relations between Britain and Yuan Shikai’s Restoration of Monarchy,1915-1916

洪宪帝制期间,为迎合袁世凯施行帝制的愿望,英国改变了原先延缓帝制的主张,转而迅速筹划承认,以期尽快稳固袁世凯政权,避免日本干涉,维持英国在华的殖民地位与既得利益。然而,为全力应对欧战,英国又不得不倚重日英同盟,借以保护它在远东地区的利益。因此,在洪宪帝制问题上,英国处处迁就日本,同意所谓的"观望"政策,而日本则以"观望"为名,行干涉之实,积极实施倒袁计划,最终迫使英国走上放弃袁世凯政权的道路。洪宪帝制的终结与袁世凯政权的覆亡促成了辛亥革命以来英国对华政策的阶段性转向,这也是英国最大程度保护在华利益,保持英日同盟,服务欧洲大战略的必然结果。

During the Hongxian Monarchy,in order to meet Yuan Shikai’s aspiration of becoming an emperor,Britain changed its original plan of delaying the monarchy.Trying to recognize the Hongxian Monarchy as soon as possible,it wished to stabilize the Yuan regime,avoid Japan’s interference and defend the British colonial interests in China.However,in coping with the war in Europe,Britain had to rely heavily on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance for the purpose of protecting its own interests in the Far East.Therefore,on the issue of Hongxian Monarchy,Britain often gave in to Japan and agreed with the so-called"Wait and See"policy,of which Japan took advantage to intervene and actively implement the anti-Yuan plan.Eventually,Britain was forced to abandon the Yuan regime.The end of the Hongxian Monarchy and collapse of the Yuan regime marked a turn of Britain’s China policy after the Revolution of 1911.It was a price paid by Britain for protecting its maximal interests in China,maintaining the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and following the grand strategy in Europe.