晚清总理衙门与电奏电旨的传递

Zongli yamen and the Practice of Sending Memorials to the Throne via Telegraph in Late Qing

晚清时期,中国利用新的电报技术进行信息传递,皇帝与各省大臣之间,开始出现电奏—电旨传递信息的形式,给原有的奏折—上谕系统加入了新的元素。总理衙门及其继任机构外务部承转电奏电旨,它们是电报上传下达的枢纽。军机处与总理衙门共同处理重要电报。各地发往总理衙门的电报会被军机处进行细节修改后归档,而电奏则有时会被军机处或总理衙门选择性地上呈。这些细节修改和选择性上呈并不会对政策制定产生大的影响。由于电报的保密性、准确性受到质疑,电奏与电旨一直未能成为清朝君臣间信息传递的主要模式。

The present paper,looking back at the history in which,because of the adoption of modern technology,the Qing emperors and regional governors started to sent memorials and decrees via telegraph,stresses that this new practice,which was collaboratively managed by Zongli yamen(the predecessor of modern Chi⁃nese ministry of foreign affairs)and Junjichu(Grand Council of State),actually failed to be predominant due to the concern over security and confidentiality.