Alexander Nikolayevich Abaza
Alexander Abaza | |
|---|---|
| Russian Consul-General in Australia | |
| In office 31 December 1910 – 27 January 1918 | |
| Preceded by | Matvei Hedenstrom |
| Succeeded by | Peter Simonoff (Soviet Russia) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1872 ( Tiflis, Russian Empire (present-day Georgia) |
| Died | 6 November 1925 (aged 53) Alexandria, Egypt |
Alexander Nikolayevich Abaza (
Early life
Abaza was born in Tiflis (present-day
Diplomatic career
Abaza joined the
Australia
In June 1910, Abaza was appointed as the Russian consul-general for Australia, based in the temporary capital of Melbourne.[1] He and his wife arrived in the country on 31 December. Believing that Oceania could become a new market for Russian goods, he travelled widely within the region, becoming the first Russian diplomat to visit New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and the New Hebrides.[2]
Abaza's tenure saw in an increase in the number of
After the February Revolution in 1917, Abaza expressed his support for the Russian Provisional Government. The new government authorised him to assist political prisoners in returning home, providing funds for their passage if necessary. He used his authority primarily to assist liberals and Mensheviks.[5] Shortly before the October Revolution, Abaza travelled to Brisbane to monitor Russian radicals suspected of disseminating anti-war propaganda; he coordinated the visit with Australian military intelligence.[2] On 24 December 1917, he wrote to Prime Minister Billy Hughes dissociating himself from the new regime, stating that he represented "those of my people who are absolutely faithful to the Allies" and would resign if Russia made peace with Germany. He wrote a second letter to Hughes on 26 January 1918, stating that he had tendered his resignation with effect from the following day.[6] He was likely responsible for the destruction of the consulate archives.[7]
Later life
Abaza left Australia in March 1918 and returned to Alexandria, where his father lived. He died on 6 November 1925, followed five months later by his second wife. They were buried at the Greek Orthodox cemetery in Shatby.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Massov, Pollard & Windle 2018, p. 283.
- ^ a b c d Massov, Pollard & Windle 2018, p. 284.
- ^ Govor 2005, p. 73.
- ^ Govor 2005, p. 74.
- ^ a b "The Red Flag Riots". Russia & Australia. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Protopopov, Michael (2005). The Russian Orthodox Presence in Australia: The History of a Church (PhD thesis). Australian Catholic University. p. 24.
- ^ Massov, Pollard & Windle 2018, p. 285.
Sources
- Govor, Elena (2005). Russian Anzacs in Australian History. UNSW Press. ISBN 9780868408569.
- Massov, Alexander; Pollard, Marina; Windle, Kevin, eds. (2018). "Alexander Abaza" (PDF). A New Rival State?: Australia in Tsarist Diplomatic Communications. ANU Press.