柔克义与美国“庚款兴学”

William Woodville Rockhill and American Boxer Indemnity Education Program

鉴于庚子赔款给清政府的统治地位带来了巨大威胁,进而威胁美国在华利益,美国中国问题专家柔克义建议并推动美国政府率先向中国退还部分庚款。柔克义几乎全程参与了中美之间关于退款的交涉,是促成美国向中国退款的关键人物之一。同时,柔克义着力于提升美国对中国的持久性影响,力主将退款用于中国向美国派遣留学生。他先是挫败了其他美国政客对退款用途的干预,后又强力胁迫清政府将退款用于指定的教育方面,是美国“庚款兴学”计划的主张者和落实者。

In view of the great threat the Boxer Indemnity brought to the Qing Government’s dominance,which in turn threatened American interests in China,William Woodville Rockhill,one of American experts on China,suggested and urged the American government to take the lead in returning the surplus Boxer Indemnity to China.As American Minister to China,Rockhill was involved almost all the way through the Boxer Indemnity negotiations between China and the United States,and was one of the key figures who facilitated the remitted indemnity from the United States to China.To increase America’s lasting influence in China,he also suggested that the remitted indemnity be used for Chinese students studying in the United States.After thwarting other American politicians’attempts to interfere with the purpose of the remitted indemnity,he forcefully coerced the Qing Government into using the remitted indemnity for designated education.Rockhill was the initiator and implementer of the Boxer Indemnity Education Program.