| Abstract: | 葉公超早年留學美、英，回國後在北大、清大、西南聯大等校任教，後轉入外交部工作，可說是學者從政。1949年到1958年葉公超從代理外交部長到真除共9年；1958年到1961年派任駐美大使。1949到1961年是他從政最重要的時期，也是中華民國政權能否延續的關鍵時期。本文探討重心在他面對重大外交事件的回應、在政府決策形成的過程中是否能提供積極的對策、是否能以國家利益為考量、是否能執行國家政策、而學者身份是否對他的政治生涯有所影響。在他外交部長任內美國發佈的白皮書雖重挫國府威信，但基於中美友誼的維持，國府的回應平和；中日和約、中美共同防禦條約兩約的簽訂，一定程度的傷害了國府的尊嚴，但也形式上維持國府的正統地位、提昇國際地位與穩定內部，因此，國府內部雖覺有遺憾但仍可接受。在駐美大使任內，因1958年823金門砲戰再掀台海危機，美國務卿杜勒斯訪台後發表的聯合公報中的「不使用武力」或「不憑藉武力」光復大陸的宣示，卻引起了極大的震撼與反彈；1961年外蒙申請加入聯合國與我在聯合國代表權的維護，形成的糾葛下，導致了葉公超的去職，成了沒打包行李即離任的駐美大使。總體看葉公超在他外交工作的政治生涯中，展現的特質是：能做前瞻性的規劃、能具體建言並尋求對其政策的支持、據細膩的觀察與分析能力、全力以赴執行國家政策。1961年外蒙問題儘管他有不同的意見，但他仍強調：在國外辦外交的人，自然絕對服從政府的決策，努力去做。1981年葉公超去世後，蔣經國總統在褒揚令中稱讚他在政府遷台之初，能尊奉國策，翊贊中樞，開創新運。肯定他以學者從政在外交部長任內對國家所做的貢獻。他的學生卞之琳以「赤子心與自我戲劇化」形容他，正可傳神的形容這位從政學者對工作的投入與性格中直率的一面。
George K. C. Yeh studied in the United States and Britain, after returning from abroad taught at Peking University, Tsing Hua Uuniversity and National Southwestern Associated University, then transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was recognized as a scholar politician. For a of total 9 years George Yeh served as the Acting Foreign Minister and assumed the official the title of the Foreign Minister instead of deputy from 1949 to 1958. He was then appointed as the Ambassador to the United States of America from 1958 to 1961.1949 to 1961 not only encompassed Yeh’s important political career but also the continuation of the radical period of the Republic of China regime. This thesis will focus on the study of the responses when Yeh faced major diplomatic incidents, whether he provided positive responses in the formation processes of government decision-makings, considered the national interests as well as implemented national policies, and whether the identity as a scholar impacted his political career. In Yeh’s term as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the United States published the “White Paper”. This action tumbled the authority of the Chinese government, but the government responded peacefully because of the perpetuation of the Sino-American friendship. Though the treaties signed between China and Japanese, and between China and U.S. harmed the dignity of government to a degree, but the treaties also maintained the orthodox position of the government, as well as enhanced its international status and internal stabilization. Therefore, it were regrettable but acceptable to the government.In Yeh’s term as Ambassador to the United States, 823 Golden Gate Artillery of August 23, 1958 evoked the crisis across Taiwan Strait. U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles visited Taiwan and issued a Sino- American joint Communiqu? to announce the declaration of “not the use of force” to recover the Mainland that caused great shock as well as a backlash. Furthermore, Outer Mongolia application to join the United Nations in 1961 entangled with the maintenance of Chinese representation in the United Nations and led to George Yeh’s resignation. That made him the outgoing Ambassador to the U.S. without advanced preparation.The overall characteristics shown in the political career of George Yeh ’s diplomatic work included doing forward planning, offering specific suggestions and seeking supports for his policies, devoting himself to the implementation of national policies based on careful observations and analytical capabilities. Though he had different opinions concerning the problems of Outer Mongolia in 1961, he still maintained that those who worked for diplomacy in foreign countries should obey the decisions of the government completely and devote themselves to achieve them.After George Yeh’s death in 1981, President Chiang Ching-Kuo praised him in a commendation for the obedience of national policies, assistance of the central administration, and the creation of new prospects at the beginning period of retreating government to Taiwan. Yeh was respected as a scholar of politics and for his contributions to the country during his term as Minister of Foreign Affairs.His student Pien, Chin-Lin described him as having a “pure heart and self-dramatization”, a vivid portrayal of the devoted and forthright character of the scholar politician. |
