Dr. Bogumil Vošnjak - politician and diplomat

Pričujoče delo prikazuje v pomembnih obrisih življenje in delo politika in diplomata dr. Bogumila Vošnjaka. Že njegov oče Mihael in stric Josip Vošnjak sta bistveno doprinesla k zgodovini slovenskega naroda, tako politično kakor tudi gospodarsko. Sad njune vzgoje in vzorov je bil Bogumil Vošnjak, ki ga je predvsem prva svetovna vojna zavihtela v svet političnih in diplomatskih dogajanj. Za slovensko zgodovinopisje je pomemben zaradi več dejavnikov v času burnih dogodkov doma in po svetu v začetku prejšnjega stoletja. Izpostavljena je predvsem njegova vidna vloga v Jugoslovanskem odboru, kjer je kot njegov aktivni član opozarjal svet na Slovence in ostale južne Slovane, ki naj bi se čim prej osvobodili habsburškega jarma ter se združili pod enotno in tuje nadoblasti osvobojeno državo. Kot edini Slovenec je lahko takšno združitev kronal s podpisom Krfske deklaracije, ki je kasneje bila podlaga za ustanovitev Kraljevine Srbov, Hrvatov in Slovencev. Njegova vztrajnost in bogate izkušnje med vojno so bile poplačane z mestom generalnega sekretarja jugoslovanske delegacije na mirovni konferenci v Parizu. Z imenovanjem za izrednega poslanika in pooblaščenega ministra na poslaništvu v Pragi se mu je uresničil veliki sen, čeprav le kratkotrajno. Zatem je njegova diplomatska zvezda zamrla, a s političnega prizorišča tako želene Jugoslavije ni poniknil, temveč se je v raznih funkcijah pojavljal v družbenem in političnem življenju skupne države. Svojemu idealu unitaristične jugoslovanske države je sledil skozi vse življenje, med drugo svetovno vojno kot pripadnik Mihailovićevih četnikov in kot emigrant v ZDA po drugi svetovni vojni.This dissertation gives an insight into life and work of a politician and diplomat Bogumil Vošnjak. His father Mihael Vošnjak and uncle Josip Vošnjak had already made a significant contribution to the history of Slovenian people both politically and economically. Their way of raising and their ideals reflected in work of Bogumil Vošnjak. It was mainly the First World War that encouraged Bogumil Vošnjak to participate in the political and economic sphere. Vošnjak is important in the Slovenian historiography for playing an active role during turbulent times at home and around the world at the beginning of the 20th century. His most significant influence was seen in the Yugoslav Committee. As an active member, he represented Slovenes and other south Slavs to the world who aimed at freeing themselves from the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy and unifying in an independent country. Vošnjak was the only Slovene among the signers of the Corfu Declaration which made the unification possible and it was the first step to creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Diligence he had showed and rich experiences he had gained during the war paved him the way to the position of General Secretary of the Yugoslav delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. His dream came true, as he was appointed an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Yugoslav Embassy in Praguehowever, enthusiasm did not last long. Soon, his diplomatic career faced the end, but he still remained part of the Yugoslav political scene. Vošnjak continued to appear in public and political life on various positions. He followed his ideal of an unitary Yugoslav state through his whole life – as a member of the Chetnik movement led by General Draža Mihailović during the Second World War and as an emigrant to the US after the war