《中法新约》析论

《中法新约》历来被认为是个不平等的条约。事实上,条约是否平等应从缔约双方利益得失的角度进行衡量。而清政府实际上无论是在陆战还是海战中,军事上都处于劣势,镇南关大捷也只是局部胜利。《中法新约》中虽然有不利于清政府的内容,但就当时的国内国际环境和整体利益来看,条约的签订是利大于弊的。所以清政府在军事上是失败的,而在外交上是成功的,即《中法新约》基本上是平等的。

On the Sino-France New Convention

Sino-France New Convention is usually considered as an inequitable convention. Whether the convention is of the equality or not should be measured from the angle of gaining and losing of the benefits of both parties. In fact the army of the Qing government is in an inferior position, in terms of both land and naval battle. And the Zhen Nanguan Great Victory is only a local victory. With both domestic and international situation of that time and the holistic interest taken into account, the advantages of signing the Sino-France New Convention is over its disadvantages, though there exist many items unfavorable to the Qing government. Therefore, though the Qing government fails in the military affairs, it succeeds in the diplomatic affairs. Through the analysis and argumentation, the author comes to an opposite conclusion that the Sino-France New Convention is basically of equality.