GOVERNMENTAL "CHANGE" OF 15 AUGUST 1903 IN RUMOUROLOGY
The article deals with the resignation of S.Yu. Witte from the post of the Minister of Finance and his appoint-ment to the post of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers on August 15, 1903, as reflected in the rumours provoked by these events. Such rumours are analyzed in their development, their sources are studied and their target audience is identified. The functioning of the rumours in the area of non-public politics is considered based on the examples of the events of late summer - early autumn 1903.