葛超智與臺灣

George H. Kerr and Taiwan

論及二次大戰後初期的臺美關係，不可不提葛超智。葛氏於西元1945年末至1947年初，擔任美國駐臺北副領事，雖僅只1年多，對其本國政府對臺政策也是影響有限，甚至是互相扞挌，然而對臺灣民間的影響，卻使得人們在談論起這段歷史時，總是無法忽略。葛超智目睹戰後國民黨在臺的接收狀況，以及在二二八事件中對本土勢力的打擊，頗不以為然。基於此點，他開始展開一連串向美國政府的建言，包括不應繼續支持國民黨，以及不該讓在中國大陸失敗的國民黨政權撤退來臺等等。他主張臺灣應有臺灣人組成的自治政府，國民黨政權遭受臺灣人民的厭惡，若聽任其撤退來臺，則勢將導致共產勢力乘隙入侵，而對美國的太平洋安全造成不利影響。基於上述思維，他曾提出「臺灣託管論」等主張，而由於支持臺灣的自治運動，也使他不可避免的和後來的臺獨主張扯上關係。許多研究者在評論葛超智時，總是傾向於將他與臺灣自主，亦或是臺灣獨立運動劃上等號，並一廂情願的認為葛氏一心為臺。而此一論調，也造成了另一派研究者的大力反駁，認為葛氏所為只不過是為了美國利益。本文擬自葛超智早期與臺灣的淵源談起，乃至其在臺時期的所見所聞，從這些面向去探討其「臺灣戰略觀」形成之所由。筆者並不欲作「擁葛」亦或是「反葛」間非此即彼的選擇，而是希望以一種更宏觀的角度，探討葛超智與臺灣的關係，以及其主張之來由。

When it comes to relations between Taiwan and the U.S. after WW II, George H. Kerr's role is worthy of mention. He served in Taiwan as U.S. vice-consul from late 1945 to early 1947. Although his tenure lasted only for a year, and his influence on the U.S. government was quite limited, he left a lasting impact on Taiwanese society, which is still felt today when people mention this period. George H. Kerr felt repulsed when he saw what the KMT did in Taiwan, including the Feb. 28 Incident. Because of such incidents, he started to change his stance, suggesting that the U.S. government should refrain from providing any further support to the KMT, and not take a laisser-faire attitude to the KMT's withdrawal to Taiwan. He claimed that Taiwan should have her own autonomous government formed by her people. The KMT establishment was disliked. If allowed to withdraw to Taiwan, it would give communists opportunities to launch an attack, and would put the Pacific situation in danger. Based on the viewpoint mentioned above, George H. Kerr once proposed trusteeship as a viable solution. Because of his predisposition to favor an autonomous Taiwan, he was unavoidably linked to this island's claim of independence. In examining George H. Kerr's life, many researchers tend to equate his name to the independence of Taiwan, and to consider that he was pro-Taiwan at the core. But this viewpoint draws some furious objection by other researchers, who think that what George H. Kerr did was merely done with U.S. interests in mind. This essay will provide an account of George H. Kerr's first contact with Taiwan. By citing what he saw and heard, we will focus on where derived his“strategic view of Taiwan.'' In this essay, the author aims to maintain neutrality, assuming neither a pro nor anti- George H. Kerr position, but rather to judge the relations between this historical figure and Taiwan in a critical, objective manner.