過去學界對日俄戰爭期間中國之「局外中立」政策研究，因受革命史觀、民族情感及史料所限制，多持負面評價，著重於清廷決策失當，而忽略中國在戰爭中執行中立國角色的重要性。近年出土之《儀若日記》，主人翁鄒嘉來長期任職於清政府外交機構，日俄戰爭期間，承擔處理對日、俄交涉之重任，並因傑出表現為日後發展奠下基礎。其日記中，記載許多日、俄如何挑戰中國中立地位，外務部如何堅守法理立場，委婉應付各方壓力的案例，實可彌補過去學界依賴官方文書之不足。本文由史料分析出發，並依據此新史料，重新考察日俄戰爭期間之中國中立地位，希冀能於其中，進一步瞭解局外中立期間清廷所面臨的困境，及其努力過程，以給予中國中立更公允的評價。

The previous studies of China's "neutrality" policy in Russo-Japanese War had been limited by the viewpoint of revolutionary history, the national emotion as well as the materials. Therefore, scholars mostly held the negative appraisal, and focused on the wrong policy-making of Qing government, but neglected the importance that how did China to carry out the neutral country role in the war. Zou Jia-lai, the owner of "Yi-rou Diary" which appeared recent years, had come the long-term assignment in the diplomatic institution of Qing government, who undertook the heavy responsibility on handling the negotiation with Japanese and Russian during Russo-Japanese War period, Russia negotiates. Because of his excellent performances that he established the steady foundation for develops in the future. In his diary, records a lot of cases about how did Japan and Russia challenge the Chinese neutral status, as well as the foreign office adhere the ground of legal principle to deal with all pressure come from right-and left tactfully. It might make up insufficiency of the past researches which had depended on official archives. This article proceeds from the analysis of historical materials, and inspects the neutral status of China in Russo-Japanese War by "Yi-rou Diary". Hope can understand further what the crossfire Qing government faced and the processes it worked during the neutral period, and to give the neutrality of China more liberal appraisal.