一·二八事变与“集体安全”在东亚的破产

The January 28 Incident and the end of“Collective Security”in East Asia

一·二八事变的爆发是日本对华盛顿体系的又一次挑衅。事件发生后,英美两国政府内部就如何判定该事件的责任方展开激烈讨论。为了制止战争,英美两国延续了划定“中立区”的方案。该方案遭日本拒绝后,两国分别派出蓝普森和詹森赴沪调停,但收效甚微。美国受制于经济危机和孤立主义势力的影响,欲拉拢英国,共同援引《九国公约》遏制日本。英国囿于自身实力,只希望在国联的职能范围内行事,因此拒绝了美方的提议,“集体安全”最终破产。英美先后三次调停此次事件的外交互动过程不仅体现出各国在华利益的复杂性,也充分暴露出“集体安全”和“大国一致”原则缺乏执行条件和机制的弊端。

The outbreak of the January 28 Incident was another challenge from Japan to the Washington system.After the incident,there was an intense discussion within the British and American Governments on how to determine the party responsible for the incident.To stop the war,Britain and the United States continued to establish a“Neutral Zone”.After the plan was rejected by Japan,the two countries respectively sent Miles Lampson and Nelson T.Johnson to Shanghai to mediate,but with little effect.Influenced by the Great Depression and isolationist forces,the United States sought to draw Britain in by jointly invoking the Nine-Power Treaty to contain Japan.However,owing to its limited strength,Britain only intended to act within the functions of the League of Nations,and rejected the United States’proposal,so the“Collective Security”eventually collapsed.The diplomatic interaction between Britain and the United States in mediating this incident three times not only reflects the complexity of the interests of various countries in China but also fully exposes the shortcomings of the principles of“Collective Security”and“Unity of Great Power”that lack implementation conditions and mechanisms.