TNAG-0289-FCO40-325-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 81

19. MONGOLIA

Planners' H

(a) Expenditure

(b)

FCO/COI/HSO

Comments

CONFIDENTIAL

(i) Operational

1971-72

1970-71

3,032

3,190

Opportunities for information work are extremely

limited and such activity as is undertaken is

handled by the ambassador.

His main priority is

(ii)

political and his effort makes considerable

impact on Mongols and East European colleagues.

Future Developments

We do not foresee any developments likely to

change the demands made on the post,

(iii) BBC Russian and English broadcasts are audible.

There is a modest programme of cultural exchanges.

(iv) Overall Assessment

Mongolia's position on the Russo-Chinese border

and her ties with the Soviet Union have a

strategic military importance for Soviet-Chinese

relations. The raison d'être for our presence

is to gather military, political and technical

information. The Mission is the only permanent

Western one in Ulan Bator, attesting to

Mongolia's independence simply by being there,

and the Mongols appreciate this.

- 40

CONFIDENTIAL