The Outcast

Abstract

Molotov’s departure from Moscow was unexpected. Driven out of his apartment, he was forced to abandon a large library that was later ruined in a flood.¹ Initially, he was greeted with considerable respect in Mongolia,² but soon found himself shunned by the diplomatic staff of other socialist countries, except by Mićunović, the Yugoslav ambassador to the USSR, who took care to maintain contact with Molotov as Khrushchev’s relations with Tito deteriorated.³ At the Mongolian Party Congress in 1958, Molotov was treated with contempt by the Soviet delegation. He was not allowed to meet the representatives when they arrived or attend their meetings with the Mongolian government.⁴ Perhaps, because when he did speak to them, he unwisely criticised the disbandment of the MTSs,⁵ the leader of the delegation, N. G. Ignatov, attacked him as a factionalist and a member of the ‘anti-party group’. Molotov was kept away from the session of the Congress when this occurred.⁶