Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

861.00/11875: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, February 4, 1941—6 p.m.
[Received 10:17 p.m.]

219. A ukase dated January 30th was published in the Moscow newspapers on January 31 awarding “to Comrade L. P. Beriya, the People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the title of General Commissar for State Security.” This honorary title which resembles that of “Marshal” has heretofore been associated with the Commissariat for Internal Affairs and was held by Beriya’s two predecessors¹³ both of whom received it immediately after assuming office. Beriya, however, until the issuance of the present ukase held another title lower than that now bestowed upon him.

Today’s Moscow newspapers publish four additional ukases affecting the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the first of which divides the Commissariat into two sections called the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People’s Commissariat for State Security of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The second appoints Beriya as People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The third appoints Vsevolod Nikolaevich Merkulov Commissar for State Security of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the fourth appoints Beriya as an Assistant President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Merkulov has been First Assistant People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs since December 17, 1938.

Since 1934 the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs has consisted of the Departments of State Control, Militia, Border, and Internal Guards, Fire Protection, and Corrective Labor Camps. The State Security Department operates the Secret Police currently known as the N. K. V. D., and more general[ly] as the G. P. U. In consequence it would appear that the new Commissariat for State Security will be the organ through which the G. P. U. will operate, while the Commissariat for Internal Affairs presumably will carry on more routine duties.

I am unable at the moment to determine whether these rearrangements imply in fact as they do in appearance any diminution of the personal importance of Beriya. A further report will be submitted should additional information be obtained.

Steinhardt

13. Lavrenty Pavlovich Beriya was preceded as People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs by Genrikh (Henry) Grigoryevich Yagoda (1935–36) and Nikolay Ivanovich Yezhov (1936–38).