论英国对德经济战中的中立贸易因素——以《伦敦海战法规宣言》的签署和废弃为中心

Neutral Trade Factors in Britain’s Economic War against Germany——Centered on London Declaration Concerning the Laws of Naval War

第一次世界大战期间英国针对德国实施的经济战行动为协约国阵营获得战争胜利提供了有力的保障。纵观其筹备和实施过程,中立贸易问题一直是影响英国政府决策的重要外部因素。1909年2月,英国主导签署了《伦敦海战法规宣言》。通过这一国际立法实践,英国希望实现交战权利和中立(贸易)权利的相对平衡,以确保自身在未来可能的战争中无论扮演哪种角色都能最大程度地得到国际法的庇护。然而事与愿违,一战爆发后《伦敦海战法规宣言》不但没有为英国的经济战行动提供合法性背书,反而严重地阻碍了其有效实施。究其根源,即先前推动签署这一文件时,英国低估了中立贸易渠道对于德国维系自身战争能力所起到的重要作用。经历了一个曲折的过程,英国政府于1916年下定决心开始对中立贸易实施强有力的干预,《伦敦海战法规宣言》随之彻底遭到废弃。

Britain?s economic war against Germany during the First World War provided a strong guarantee for the Allied camp to win the war. Throughout its preparation and implementation, the issue of neutral trade had always been an important external factor affecting the decision of the British government. In February 1909, Britain dominated the signing of London Declaration Concerning the Laws of Naval War. Through this international legislative practice, Britain hoped to achieve the relative balance between belligerent rights and neutral(trade) rights, so as to ensure that whatever role it plays in the future possible wars can be protected by international law to the greatest extent. After the outbreak of World War I, however, instead of providing legal endorsement for Britain?s economic warfare activities, London Declaration Concerning the Laws of Naval War seriously hindered the effective implementation of these activities. The cause behind was that in pushing for the treaty, Britain had underestimated the importance of neutral trade channels for Germany to maintain its war capability. After a tortuous process, the British government decided to intervene forcefully in neutral trade in 1916, and London Declaration Concerning the Laws of Naval War was completely abandoned.