近代中日關係的起點──1870年中日締約交涉的檢討

The Starting Point of Modern China-Japan Relations: The Temporary Protocol Negotiations of 1870

本文探討1870年日本派遣柳原前光等為使節，前往清朝交涉締結「暫定條約」之過程。明治新政府在對清外交的開展上，因憂慮歐美各國可能干涉日清接觸，便捨棄透過歐美國家中介的國際慣例，派遣柳原等與清朝進行直接接觸。出發前，柳原等擬定包含締結「暫定條約」等在內的三方案。交涉過程中，為博取清朝好感，達到訂約目的，柳原策略性地主張「日清聯合」，實施對清「友好策略」。清朝對日本的態度，主要有總署的對日警戒論及李鴻章的「日清聯合」論，而後者則與柳原的主張相符，但因總署主導對日交涉，李的想法並未獲得伸張。其後，由於總署（通商）與柳原（締約）各自誤判對方意圖，導致協商陷入僵局。最後，在通商大臣成林努力說服下，柳原放棄原訂目標，同意收下清朝承諾將來締約的文書，交涉至此告一段落。只是李的主張，日後在其主導草擬對日條約時，成為對日政策之一；相反地，日本卻改變了對清「友好」政策，導致正式締約交涉時雙方外交上的衝突與逆轉。其演變結果即肇因於1870年雙方這次接觸。

This article discusses the Japanese government's dispatch of Yanagiwara Sakimitsu to negotiate a ”temporary protocol” with China. Since the new Meiji government was afraid of Western countries interfering in Japan's China diplomacy, it was decided to dispense with the international etiquette of the time and not use a Western country in the role of mediator. Instead, Japan chose to directly contact China by sending the Yanagiwara mission. Before the Yanagiwara mission was sent to China, Yanagiwara and the Japanese authorities prepared three goals, including the conclusion of ”a temporary protocol” with China. While negotiating with the Qing government, the Japanese mission made some intriguing suggestions, including a ”Japan-China Alliance,” in order to secure the other party's agreement and achieve a protocol. Meanwhile, China was divided between competing diplomatic policies toward Japan. The Zongli Yamen was skeptical of Japan's suggestions, but Li Hongzhang welcomed Yanagiwara's idea of a Japan-China Alliance. Since the Zongli Yamen took the lead in the negotiations, Li's opinion was not adopted. The Zongli Yamen (which sought trade relations) and the Japanese mission (which wanted a temporary protocol) misunderstood their opposite party's intentions, and the negotiations came to a standstill. Eventually, with Chenglin's persuasion, Yanagiwara deferred conclusion of a treaty and agreed to accept a memorandum that the two countries would conclude a treaty in the future. When the two countries later negotiated a formal treaty, Li Hongzhang's position was accepted as the basis for China's Japan policies. However, at that time Japan had already changed its friendship policy toward China. As a result, their diplomatic policies collided during the treaty negotiation. This article demonstrates that the diplomatic collision of the two countries can be traced back to the negotiations of 1870.