761.93/7–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6—2:47 p.m.]
2434. Front page announcement accompanied by photo of arrival July 4 of Marshal Choi-Balsan, Prime Minister [of] Mongolian People’s Republic appeared in Moscow press July 5. Visitor was met at airport by Molotov, Assistant Commissar for Internal Affairs V. N. Merkulov (in charge of administration of state security, which includes border guards), Assistant Commissar for Foreign Affairs Lozovski, Vice Commissar for Foreign Trade U. M. Kaganovich, Colonel Gelri F. Kuznetsov (believed to be high in state security organization) and Disambu (Mongolian Minister here). I. A. Ivanov, Soviet Minister to Mongolian Republic, arrived at same time. No indication was given of purpose of visit. (To Dept 2434; rptd Chungking 52.)
Choi-Balsan has visited Moscow on several previous occasions but has never before been met by such high ranking Soviet personages. Composition of welcoming delegation was in rank equal to or higher than those greeting Stettinius,74 Beneš, Poles and Soong.
Prominence on this occasion of Merkulov, who is not being included with top stratum at major reviews and functions, suggests that NKVD and its border guards play prominent role in control of Mongolian Republic.
Coincidence of this visit with that of Soong will not fail to be noted by foreign observers in Moscow.75