Diana Abgar
Diana Abgar | |
---|---|
Armenia Honorary consul to Japan | |
In office 1920–1920 | |
Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | position abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | British Burma | 17 October 1859
Died | 8 July 1937 Yokohama, Japan | (aged 77)
Occupation | Writer, merchant and humanitarian |
Diana Abgar (or Apcar; Armenian: Դիանա Աբգար, 17 October 1859 – 8 July 1937) was a diaspora Armenian writer and humanitarian, who was appointed Honorary Consul to Japan of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920).[1] She was the first female Armenian diplomat and one of the first women to have ever been appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century.[2]
Life
Diana Agabeg (Agabegian), whose baptismal name was Gayane, was born in
Diplomatic career
When the Republic of Armenia gained independence on 28 May 1918, Armenia was not recognized by any international state. Yet in 1920, through Apcar's efforts, Japan became the first nation to recognize the new republic's independence.[2] Out of respect to her efforts, Hamo Ohanjanyan, who was then the Foreign Minister of the Republic, appointed Diana Apcar Honorary Consul to Japan.[2] This made her the first Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century. However, after the fall of the First Republic of Armenia in the same year 1920, her post was abruptly terminated.[2]
Works
After her son took over the family business in Japan, Apcar had more time to concentrate on her humanitarian, literary, and diplomatic career. She started working with numerous journals and newspapers such as The Japan Advertiser, The Far East, The Japan gazette, and Armenia (later to be known as New Armenia). She focused much of her literature on the oppressed and their circumstances. She wrote about the Armenian plight in the Ottoman Empire in order to raise global awareness. By 1920 she had already written over nine books in dedication to the Armenian Genocide. She also wrote many articles on international relations and the impact of imperialism on world affairs and global peace.[2] These works include:
- The Great Evil. Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette” Press, 1914, 114 pp.
- Peace and No Peace. Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette” Press, 1912, 101 pp.
- The Peace Problem. Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette” Press, 1912, 131 pp.
- On the Cross of Europe’s Imperialism: Armenia Crucified. Yokohama, Japan: 1918, 116 pp.[3]
- In His Name ... Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette,” 1911. 52 pp.
- Betrayed Armenia. Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette” Press, 1910, 77 pp.
- The Truth about the Armenian Massacres. Yokohama, Japan: “Japan Gazette,” 1910, 26 pp.
- Home Stories of the War. Kobe, Japan: The Kaneko Printing Works, 1905, 47 pp.
- Susan. Yokohama, Japan: Kelly and Walsh, Limited, 1892, 109 pp.
The Stateless Diplomat
A great-granddaughter of Diana Apcar, Mimi Malayan, found a box of her writings in 2004 and began researching her life. In 2018 she completed a documentary film The Stateless Diplomat, drawing on previously unpublished writings. She also established a website making available many of Apcar's publications.[4]
References
- ^ a b Soghomonian, Sarah (December 2004). "Lucille Apcar Introduces New Book". Hay Sharzhoom. 26 (#2 (88)). Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Diana Apcar: The First Woman Diplomat". Armenian Cultural Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Apcar, Diana Agabeg (1918). On the cross of Europe's imperialism, Armenia crucified. The Library of Congress. Yokohama [Printed by the Fukuin printing co., ltd.]
- ^ "The Stateless Diplomat. Historical Docudrama about Diana Apcar". dianaapcar.org. Retrieved 27 August 2023.