American press as source for studying personality of Admiral A.V. Kolchak and functioningof All-Russian Provisional Government

This article analyses the U.S. press (1918-1920) as the source on the history of the Civil War andintervention in Siberia and Russian Far East. More than 1,500 articles and short notes were revealed on this problem on the pages ofAmerican newspapers. They can make it possible to clarify how through the mass media the public opinion in Western countries wasforming about the events in Russia in general and in Siberia in particular. The American press paid attention to the preparations forintervention in Russia, the debates in government circles in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan on this issue. The newspapers such asThe New York Times, The Washington Times, New York Tribune and others touched the theme of "Kolchak and the allies", particularly,the problem of recognition of the Omsk government by the allies, primarily by the United States. The greatest number of publicationsdevoted to A.V. Kolchak and the All-Russian Provisional Government, which he led after the November 18 1918 coup, appeared on thepages of American newspapers during the successful offensive of Kolchak's troops in the spring of 1919. Newspapers informed readersabout the military and political situation in Siberia, described the personality of Admiral A.V. Kolchak, his followers, the policy pursuedby the Supreme Ruler of Russia. The question of recognition of A.V. Kolchak's Government was extensively discussed at the PeaceConference, which was held at that time in Paris. The American press caught the mood of the allies, which inextricably linked the finaldecision on the recognition of the Omsk government with the success of the massive offensive of Kolchak's troops onto Moscow. Thepublication also reviews newspaper articles, which provided a critical assessment of the situation in Siberia. Indicative in this respect isthe article by Louis Kornfield who condemns the followers of Admiral A.V. Kolchak. The failure of Kolchak's offensive and subsequenthasty retreat into the depths of Siberia changed the tone of American publications to pessimistic. These failures on the front arouseddoubts about the wisdom of recognition and support of the Omsk government, which were picked up by the press. The authors concludethat the American press has sufficient information material, which allows using it as a source for studying the events of the Civil Warand intervention in eastern Russia. The press played an important role in forming the public opinion in Western countries in support ofAdmiral Kochak's Government.

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