国家利益抑或个人追求:莫理循“服务中国”原则再探讨

National Interest or Personal Pursuit:A Further Discussion on Morrison’s Principle of“Serving China”

1897-1912年间,乔治·厄内斯特·莫理循以英国伦敦《泰晤士报》驻北京记者的身份在中国活动,1912-1920年又担任中华民国总统的政治顾问。莫理循在华期间不仅积极为英国争取在华利益,也对中国政府事务极为关注,甚至曾试图通过舆论压力影响袁世凯称帝运动的走向。运动前期,莫理循只是以较为平和的态度劝说袁世凯推迟称帝时间。至运动后期,当他逐渐意识到袁世凯的称帝决心后,莫理循对帝制的态度发生了明显的改变,且亲自前往南方进行实地考察,希望用事实劝说袁世凯放弃帝制。莫理循对袁世凯称帝运动的干预,其中固然有维护中、英国家利益的考量,而在个人追求层面对事业成功的向往也是其“服务中国”的重要原则,他非常希望在中国的政治变局中实现其作为政治顾问的价值。

George Ernest Morrison was an active correspondent for The Times of London in Beijing from 1897 to 1912.From 1912 to 1920,he served as a political adviser for the President of the Republic of China.During his stay in China,Morrison not only actively fought for British interests but also took a keen interest in Chinese government affairs,even attempting to influence Yuan Shikai’s imperial campaign through public pressure.In the early stage of the movement,Morrison advised Yuan to postpone his accession to the throne only in a quite modest manner.Later,when he gradually realized Yuan’s strong political desire,Morrison’s attitude changed significantly and even went to the south of China to conduct field research,hoping to persuade Yuan with facts to abandon the imperial system.Morrison’s intervention was certainly to defend the interests of China or Britain,but his personal ambition had also a positive impact on his working principle of“serving China”,and he was keen to realize his value as a political adviser in China’s political changes.