THE IMAGE OF JAPAN IN THE ANTI-BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT PRESS OF THE WEST SIBERIA AT THE TIME OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT A.V. KOLCHAK (NOVEMBER 1918 - DECEMBER 1919)

The purpose of this article is to study the image of Japan that was an important ally of Omsk government. To solve this problem, it is necessary to analyze foreign policy course of the Russian government of A.V. Kolchak on the pages of the periodical press of Western Siberia in 1918-1919 and to determine the reasons for the formation of the image of Japan as an ally of the anti-bolshevik movement. The main principle underlying the article is the principle of historicism. The use of this method made it possible to study in detail the image of Japan as a foreign ally on the pages of the anti-Bolshevik government periodical press of Western Siberia in 1918-1919 in the context of the domestic political and foreign policy situation on the territory of the former Russian Empire during the Civil War, taking into account the built-up relations with the world powers. For the purpose of a detailed study of the materials of each issue of the newspapers devoted to Japan, the frontal method was used. To analyze the content of the press, a method of content-analysis was used, aimed at identifying applications, statements, various calls to action that are contained in the periodical press. With the help of the method of content-analysis, the dynamics of the formation of the image of Japan was revealed in connection with the peculiarities of the relations of anti-bolshevik governments with foreign states. The main source for the claimed problem is the West Siberian government anti-bolshevik periodical press of 1918-1919. The image of Japan, presented in the periodical press, makes it possible to determine the degree of importance of Japanese military assistance and the level of confidence in it from the Russian government of A.V. Kolchak. In the course of the conducted research the author came to the following conclusion: a positive image of Japan was needed by the Russian government of A.V. Kolchak, because this country had the potential to provide quick and effective assistance to the anti-Bolshevik movement and to influence the policies of the western powers; the main theme of the publications in the anti-Bolshevik government press was the demonstration of unity between the Russian anti-Bolshevik movement and the Japanese government; Japan was interested in a strong anti-Bolshevik Russia, according to the newspapers.