A Powerhouse in the Orient

While she was giving birth to her first child in an upstairs bedroom, downstairs were creditors repossessing her furniture and personal belongings. In the midst of this tense situation, the young Armenian bride didn’t lose sight of what was important to her. She gave a sack of jewels to her friend and instructed her to sneak them out of the house and auction them off. The money raised from the jewels was not used to buy back her furniture nor her personal belongings or to help her husband come out of debt, but was instead used for her life-long mission: aiding Armenian refugees and war victims. In the late 19th century, a woman’s role was usually played out only in the confines of her home. She was not considered politically or culturally savvy. Her opinion was relegated to minor gossip and valid only when it came to child rearing and house-keeping. In most

societies, especially Asian and Armenian, a woman had no place in political diplomacy. In fact, it was inconceivable that she could have an in-depth understanding of world affairs. None of these limitations mattered for Diana Agabeg Apcar. In the exotic setting of late 19th-century Japan, where strict norms restricted women from contributing to political discourse, this young Armenian woman shook the foundations of not one, but two patriarchal societies. Not many know that Diana Agabeg Apcar was the first woman diplomat of modern times. Many have never even heard of her name, let alone the tremendous impact she had on shaping world discourse about the plight of the Armenians during World War I. This apparently unassuming figure planted her roots in Yokohama, Japan where she eventually became known to everyone as “the little mother to a nation.”

In a Land of ForeignersDiana Agabeg Apcar’s unusual story begins as many Armenian stories do, with forced relocation. In the early 17th century, Shah Abbas forced many Armenians including both the Agabeg and Apcar families to relocate to New Julfa, Persia. Armenian families in New Julfa became prominent businessmen and merchants. However, their success was short-lived as later Shahs became increasingly hostile to the non-Persian minority. As strict restrictions were placed on business and trade, many prominent Armenian families relocated to British territories such as India and Burma. Diana Agabeg, the youngest of seven children, was born October 12, 1859, in Burma (present-day Myanmar) to a prominent family who later moved to Calcutta, India. In 1889, she married Michael Apcar who had immigrated from New Julfa to Calcutta as a child. The Apcar family had established flourishing

The Orient, East Asia, and Japan are exotic, distant places that conjure up images of beautiful gardens, crowded streets, remarkable sights

and sounds, and unusual aromas coming from kitchens brought to life by an old woman’s wrinkled hands. These distant lands, once forbidden to foreigners, became the backdrop to the story

of an incredible woman and her journey from a young, traditional bride to the first female diplomat of modern times.

Text Azzie Mekhitarian

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businesses in India before Michael and his family joined the clan. After a considerable amount of time courting, Michael Apcar finally persuaded 29-year-old Diana to marry him. On their honeymoon, the young couple traveled to Japan. Soon after returning, they decided to move to Japan where Michael ran an import-export business, A.M. Apcar and Company. By 1891, they had settled in Yokohama where they had five children of which only three survived: Rose, Michael and Ruth. At the time, Yokohama was a flourishing city with a large number of foreigners living in an area called the Bluff. After 15 years of marriage, Michael Apcar was in a carriage accident that resulted in his untimely death, leaving Diana with three young children and a business to run. Diana undertook the challenge with her typical gusto and determined confidence. She not only ran the family import-export business, but also a hotel, brought up her three children in a land of foreigners, wrote extensively about the Armenian issue, became a humanitarian savior for many refugees and the first female diplomat in modern times – all this in one lifetime. During World War I, many Armenians were driven from their ancestral homelands by forced marches, deportations and massacres; others were simply trying to leave a convoluted

companies, her knowledge of the way Japanese government worked and her astute talent in advocacy and negotiation to arrange passage for hundreds of Armenian refugees. At the time, the Japanese government required that immigrants have enough money to prove that they will not become burdens on the state. Diana with her considerable skill in diplomacy got the Japanese government to waive this requirement for Armenians coming through Japan. She raised funds and awareness through the Near East Relief Organization, which was founded to help war victims. Her intervention on behalf of the refugees to secure them proper papers was a crucial step in the process of migrating to their new host countries since many did not have visas or passports that would validate their

statehood. Diana Apcar’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts were invariably one of the main factors for legal passage through Japan. She welcomed them, set them up in temporary homes, maintained them with her private funds, fed them, put their papers in order and became the most fervent voice on behalf of their rights as citizens of the world. She realized that her greatest weapon to appeal to the world’s Great Powers not to sacrifice humanity for their economic interests, was her pen. Her most important and useful talent was to masterfully communicate to the world the importance of helping the Armenians. She wielded her pen and began writing feverishly – books, articles, pamphlets, letters... anything to bring the world’s attention to the plight of her people.

Russian Empire. Those that were escaping the ravages wrought unto the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire traveled for months via Russia to Harbin and Vladivoska. These weary travelers heard of a woman in Yokohama that was aiding refugees to make their way to the United States. Diana’s fluency in many languages helped her facilitate the necessary steps to aid the refugees to their final destination – to escape the past towards a new life of hope. She was instrumental in negotiating with government officials in Japan for the papers the refugees needed to get to their final destination. Many refugees escaped to the port city of Yokohama only to find themselves in a foreign land without proper identification, documentation, money, or resources. Diana used her contacts with various

A Progressive among ConservativesUpon her graduation from grade school in Calcutta, Diana’s uncle said to her, “Now that you’ve finished school Diana, your real education will begin.” It seems that Diana took these words as her life’s mantra and truly began to educate herself in languages, politics and history. The young Diana was fluent in English, Armenian, and Hindustani, and was considered a brilliant story-teller with a sharp understanding of current affairs. Once her son Michael was old enough to take over the family business, Diana gave herself over to writing extensively on the plight of the Armenians under Ottoman domination. Constantly educating herself about world politics, Diana viewed the world through the

“I was too young to realize what a tremendous woman she was. She spent considerable sums helping others, denying herself the pleasures of life,” says Michael Apcar.

Books by Diana ApcarSusan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1892Home .Stories .of .the .War . . . . . . . . .1905The .Truth .about .the .Armenian .Massacres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1910Betrayed .Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1910In .His .Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1911The .Peace .Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1912Peace .and .No .Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . .1912The .Great .Evil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1914On .the .Cross .of .Europe’s . .Imperialism: .Armenia .Crucified . . . . .1918

Pamphlets by Diana ApcarThe .Armenian .Massacres . . . . . . . .1910The .Anguish .of .the .Near .East . . . .1912The .Murder .of .Armenia . . . . . . . . . .1916The .American .Mandate . .for .Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1920The .Armenian .Republic . . . . . . . . . .1920Armenia’s .Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1920 .

Diana .Apcar .with .her .friendYokohama, .1890

.Apcar’s .birthplace, .Calcutta, .India, . .during .the .1890s .

Agabeg .graves, . .Tangra .Church, .South .Calcutta .

Diana .Apcar’s .mother

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lens of history. She clearly understood the dynamics of realpolitik and the effects it had on nations and people. Having witnessed the havoc wreaked on the Indian people and much of the East by European imperialism, Diana became an anti-imperialist at a time when that was not the fashionable thing to be. In fact, because she understood that an imperialist nation would never take steps that may jeopardize its economic gains, she accurately predicted that European support for the Armenians living under Turkish rule would be limited at best. She was astutely aware of the devastation that imperialistic drive can cause and understood that European powers would betray the Armenians in an effort to protect their interests. She was also sure that commercial relations with Turkey would supersede any promise made to Armenia by the United States. Among her many books published are titles like, “On the Cross of Europe’s Imperialism: Armenia Crucified” and “The Great Evil,” both revealing clear anti-imperialistic undertones and an unwavering support for the Armenian people. She had a brilliant sense of world affairs and was never one to shy away from heated political discourse. Her impassioned views and brilliant articulation of ideas eventually lead Diana to giving lectures in Japan about world affairs in general, specifically the plight of the Armenians. Published female writers and lecturers were not common in the conservative societies of the East, but Diana managed to publish numerous books, manuscripts, articles and lectures in her quest to bring world attention to the fate of the Armenian people. Nor was it common for a woman to debate world affairs with men, eventually earning their respect as someone with a keen understanding of the world and a shrewd analyst of power politics. In a conservative society such as Japan, and with a conservative heritage as an Armenian, Diana Agabeg Apcar was an anomaly for her era. Never deterred by the limitations placed on her gender,

she steamed forward believing her cause was greater than the restriction she had to overcome to be heard. Her grandson, Michael Apcar says, “If Diana Apcar lived in the United States in that era, she would have no doubt been a fervent suffragist.”

The Official DiplomatFor years, Diana helped the survivors of the massacres, advocated on behalf of the Armenian people, wrote extensively about the issue and conducted general outreach – essentially acting as an unofficial diplomat for the Armenian people. She became a legendary figure, whose selfless efforts filled the imaginations of weary travelers. Diana’s grandson recalls, “I was too young to realize what a tremendous woman she was. She spent considerable sums helping others, denying herself the pleasures of life.” She became known for her humanitarian labors and her deep patriotism. In 1918, she was given a title that finally formalized her work. Diana was named Consul to Japan by the first Armenian Republic, making her the first female diplomat in modern history. This official status gave her more leverage in Japan to facilitate passage for refugees and solidified a prominent status among

Japanese government officials. By being named an official diplomat, Diana was now able to use her position to open communications with officials from other countries in her quest to bring recognition to the conditions Armenians faced. “Whether it was seeking passports or official transport papers, Diana housed and cared for as many Armenian refugees as possible using family money and resources. She advocated on their behalf, writing letter after letter – more than 200, I’m told – to national leaders and humanitarian organizations, seeking assistance for Armenian refugees when the world had turned a cold shoulder toward them,” says Diana’s great-granddaughter Denise. In a letter to President Woodrow Wilson dated October, 20, 1920 she pleaded the case of her compatriots. She was in contact with numerous state officials, kings, queens, foreign ministers, and international humanitarians all in an effort to bring world awareness to the oppression of her compratiots. She was instrumental in fundraising for the Near East Fund to help Armenians and non-Armenians escape oppression. She maintained the post of Consul until the 1920 Sovietization of Armenia. Prior to the Republic

Stateless Patriot Diana .Agabeg .Apcar .spent .48 .consecutive .years .of .her .life .in .Japan .and .was .never .granted .Japanese .citizenship . .She .was .considered .a .“stateless .individual” .for .the .duration .of .her .life .in .Japan . .However, .her .patriotism, .intelligence .and .humanitarianism .gained .her .the .respect .of .the .Japanese .government . .She .died .before .she .would .have .witnessed .the .persecution .her .family .suffered .in .Japan .during .the .dark .days .of .World .War .II . .On .December .8, .1941, .after .Japan .bombed .Pearl .Harbor, .the .Apcar’s .home .was .seized .by .military .police .and .Diana’s .beloved .son .Michael .was .arrested .for .being .a .high-ranking .member .of .the .Masonic .Lodge .in .Yokohama . .He .was .held .in .confinement .for .14 .months .where .the .military .police .tortured .and .beat .him .in .an .attempt .to .

extract .information .about .fellow .Masons . .After .Michael’s .release, .the .family .was .forced .to .move .to .Northern .Japan . .Uprooted .and .confined .to .a .remote .village, .the .family .was .in .a .desperate .situation; .without .food .or .resources .they .had .to .survive .on .the .land . .After .the .war .ended, .Michael’s .son .got .a .job .as .an .interpreter .for .a .Swiss .company . .When .he .eventually .made .it .back .to .his .birthplace, .Yokohama .was .devastated .– .virtually .flattened .by .the .war . .Although .Michael .Apcar .lost .so .much .during .the .war, .he .still .embraced .Japanese .culture .as .an .integral .part .of .his .identity . .In .fact, .his .home .in .California .was .decorated .with .Japanese .artwork .and .he .was .known .to .serve .sushi .and .sashimi .in .his .home .long .before .it .became .a .popular .American .trend . .

In the exotic setting of late 19th-century Japan, where strict norms restricted women from contributing to political discourse, this young Armenian woman shook the patriarchal foundations.

of Armenia being absorbed by the Russian Bolsheviks, and due primarily to Diana’s efforts, Japan became one of the first nations to recognize the fledgling Armenian Republic. For those Armenian survivors who had heard of this benevolent woman in Japan who could help them get to America, the legendary figure who was said to feed and clothe strangers and help them on their arduous journey to a new life, finally became a government official. Her humanitarian role was now not only highlighted in stories being told in the Armenian community but was an official fact of the state. The unofficial diplomat was now an official statesperson.

A Woman of ContradictionThroughout her life, Diana continued to aid the needy and act as a ferocious force against oppression. She was a leading progressive of her time, a master orator and intellectual. Considering her poignant analysis of world affairs and her superior skill as a conversationalist, it is strange to think that this force of nature was also a very warm and gentle Armenian mother and grandmother who was plagued by fierce superstitions and fears that she could not overcome. In fact, Diana had

Apcar .and .Galstaun, .Golan .Apcar .in . .the .middle . .

Michael .Apcar’s . .Wedding, .1922

Diana .with .her .two .grandaughters .

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an inexplicable aversion to sapphires. Her daughter-in-law recounts in “Little Mother to a Nation,” that Diana once forced her to take off jewelry because it was made of sapphire stones, screaming, “They are bad luck. We must get rid of them.” She also had a tremendous fear of automobiles. She tried desperately to travel only with rickshaw. But if she had to take a car or carriage, she would be in an obvious state of fear, asking the driver to slow down and gripping the door handles out of panic. It was customary for Diana to wake at six in the morning and begin working on her writing to spend a significant amount of time praying. She was a devout believer in the Armenian

Church whose morning prayers and hymns were a daily ritual. When heated arguing was heard downstairs it was clear that breakfast was being served and that Diana and her son Michael were debating over politics as usual. In the early evening Diana would have all the shutters closed in her large living room and place a chair in the center and sit there with her eyes closed. “At the time I didn’t really understand what my grandmother was doing. Only later did I realize that she was meditating during this time,” says Michael Apcar. Diana did everything with fervor and a sense of passion, including taking care of her beloved roses and maidenhair ferns. Every morning, she would water

As .a .third .generation .California-born .Armenian .American, .I .grew .up .with .the .knowledge .that .my .family’s .story .as .Armenian .immigrants .was .one .shared .by .many .other .American-born .Armenians . .On .my .mother’s .side, .I .am .descended .from .the .Miroyan .and .Shahbazian .families, .which .describes .a .classic .Armenian .immigrant .journey .— .fleeing .religious .persecution .in .their .homeland, .traveling .by .ship .to .New .York .through .Ellis .Island, .and .eventually .settling .in .the .fertile .soil .of .California’s .Central .Valley . .But, .on .my .father’s .side, .the .Apcar .family .history .told .a .much .different .and .more .unusual .story . .As .far .back .as .we .can .trace, .the .Apcar .family .began .in .Persia, .had .roots .in .Burma, .Calcutta .and .eventually .Yokohama, .Japan .where .my .grandfather .and .his .siblings, .my .father .and .his .brother .and .sisters .were .all .born . .I .am .just .one .of .Diana .Apcar’s .great-granddaughters, .and .have .always .felt .an .immense .sense .of .pride .in .my .ancestral .connection .to .such .a .strong .Armenian .woman .who .accomplished .so .much .in .her .life .under .such .difficult .circumstances . .

Yet, .until .just .a .few .years .ago, .Diana .Apcar .was .more .of .a .mythical .figure .to .me .– .known .only .through .the .stories .told .to .me .by .my .father, .my .grandmother .Araxe, .and .bits .of .stories .and .memories .that .I .have .sewn .together .over .the .years . .The .stories .they .told .painted .a .picture .of .a .woman .who .was .a .prolific .author .and .one .who .was .immensely .respected .by .international .leaders, .Japanese .government .officials .and .the .extended .community .of .foreign .families .living .in .Yokohama .in .the .latter .part .of .the .19th .century .and .until .her .death .there .in .1937 . .Diana .Apcar .was .known .to .hundreds .of .Armenian .Genocide .refugees .that .came .to .Japan .seeking .a .new .life . .They .heard .there .was .a .powerful .and .important .Armenian .woman .living .there .who .offered .a .safe .temporary .home .and, .more .importantly, .hope .for .a .new .life .in .an .adopted .country . .My .great-grandmother .was .Armenia’s .first .Consul .to .Japan .and .was .known .as .the .“Little .Mother .to .a .Nation,” .not .only .because .of .her .short .stature, .but .because .of .her .tireless .work .on .behalf .of .Armenian .refugees .who .needed .assistance .to .find .passage .to .Canada, .the .United .States, .England, .and .Australia . .It .is .widely .believed .that .she .was .the .first .woman .ever .appointed .as .consul .by .any .government .I .never .sensed .a .strong .personal .and .spiritual .connection .to .my .famous .ancestor .until .I .had .the .

good .fortune .of .traveling .to .Japan .in .2008, .and .more .recently .in .2010, .and .was .able .to .personally .pay .my .respects .at .the .gravesite .of .Diana .in .the .Foreign .General .Cemetery .in .Yokohama . .In .the .summer .of .2008, .I .accompanied .my .immediate .family .members .on .a .sentimental .journey .to .visit .the .places .of .my .father’s .birth .and .youth . .We .traveled .throughout .Japan .as .he .showed .us .the .places .he .had .lived . .My .brother, .Leonard .and .I .grew .up .hearing .many .stories .of .the .Apcar .family .in .Japan, .but .only .when .I .saw .these .places .for .myself .and .retraced .their .steps, .did .I .feel .a .spiritual .connection .to .my .family .roots .in .there .It .was .only .when .I .was .able .to .traverse .the .very .streets .that .my .ancestors .traveled, .attend .services .at .the .Union .Church .as .they .did .100 .years .earlier, .visit .the .Catholic .schools .my .grandfather, .father .and .his .siblings .attended, .meander .through .the .shops .along .the .Motomachi, .walk .through .the .streets .of .Chinatown .where .the .Apcar .& .Co . .import .and .export .business .was .located, .and .stroll .the .Bund .along .Yokohama .Harbor, .that .I .was .able .to .see .for .myself .what .life .might .have .looked .like .in .this .small, .tight-knit .foreign .community .known .as .“The .Bluff” .in .Yokohama . .On .these .journeys .of .discovery, .I .closed .my .eyes .and .was .able .to .visualize .the .world .that .beckoned .a .young .married .couple .to .leave .

the .strong .Armenian .community .and .the .world .they .knew .so .well .in .Calcutta, .India, .and .head .to .this .exotic, .foreign .country .and .start .a .new .life .of .their .own .in .1889 . .Diana .Apcar .never .felt .more .real .to .me .until .I .visited .these .places, .accompanied .by .my .father, .and .allowing .her .stories .to .come .alive .once .again . .During .our .visit .to .Japan .in .2008, .quite .coincidentally, .we .found .ourselves .visiting .the .Apcar .family .plot .and .Diana .Apcar’s .gravesite .on .the .very .day .of .her .death, .July .11 . .Then, .on .my .second .visit .in .the .fall .of .2010, .my .father .and .I .were .joined .by .the .newly-appointed .Chargé .d .‘Affairs .of .the .Embassy .of .Armenia .in .Japan, .Dr . .Arsen .Arakelyan, .and .honored .her .by .placing .flowers .at .her .gravesite . .The .day .we .paid .our .respects .was .on .the .151st .anniversary .of .her .birth .Could .these .two .visits .be .purely .coincidental, .mere .random .events, .or .something .more? .Did .Diana .know .we .were .there .and .was .she .speaking .to .us .from .her .grave? .I .never .before .believed .in .such .things, .but .I .feel .differently .now .because .I .could .actually .feel .her .presence .in .return . .I .now .believe .that .she .knew .her .family .members .were .visiting .her .on .these .special .days .in .her .life . .And, .she .was .happy .and .content .knowing .that .we .would .go .forward .and .tell .her .story .once .again, .so .that .future .generations .could .know .of .her .good .work .to .aid .Armenians .in .their .time .of .greatest .need .

a massive earthquake. Diana, along with her son and daughter-in-law, was buried under the rubble of her house. A neighbor pushed through the rubble and helped them out of the debris. The house was gone. The town itself was destroyed and Diana and her family had no choice but to leave. Not being able to get through by car, they had to make their way walking for three hours over rubble and crossing broken roads to the port hoping to get on a ship named The Empress of Australia . To their disappointment, the Empress had been damaged during the quake when a bridge full of people came

She was astutely aware of the devastation that imperialistic drive can cause and understood that European powers would betray the Armenians to protect their interests.

Family Connections Run Deep By Denise Apcar

the ferns with a mixture of a little milk and water. She took care of her plants as if it was part of her daily ritual, just like her prayer, hymns and writing. Throughout her day she always found a way to get back to her favorite topic, which was world affairs. The tradition of afternoon tea was common practice in Diana’s home and many neighbors and friends would visit this great story-teller and debater for tea. Diana would entertain and enlighten her visitors with stories about her correspondence with officials from around the world. By 1923, her health was beginning to fail and she wasn’t walking much. That year, on a warm September afternoon Yokohama was shaken by

crashing down onto it. It is estimated that over 100,000 people died in the 1923 quake. Diana had become a refugee herself. The following day, they boarded another ship and made their way to Kobe, Japan where they lived for two years, after which they moved back to Yokohama. That was the only time Diana left Yokohama. Diana Agabeg Apcar was a perpetual, spiritual refugee. She had never been to her beloved Armenia. Decades had passed since she stepped foot into the church she longed for. She was born a foreigner in India and had left her place of birth for another foreign land, never

having a homeland of her own – and with a sense of betrayal by the world’s political powers, she was in a perpetual state of longing for an Armenia that never really existed, an Armenia of her dreams. She was, above all things, a woman in search of her Armenia in every refugee that passed through, in every prayer and hymn, in every quirky superstition and every heated political discourse. In 1937, on the final morning of her life, Diana asked to be left alone to say her prayers. When her family returned she had passed and was no longer a spiritual refugee, she was finally home.

Diana .and .her .hus-band’s .gravesites .

Diana .(1923) .with .her .first .grand-daughter .in .Kobe .

.Diana .Apcar's . .Funeral .1937

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