May 1941 - Closure of Yugoslav, Norwegian & Belgian embassies in Moscow

[andrew184]

On May 9, the Kremlin announced to that it was withdrawing recognition from the governments-in-exile of Norway, Belgium and Yugoslavia, and ordering the closure of their legations in Moscow.

Does anyone have any more information of the exact circumstances of this? According to Stephen Clissold in "Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union: A Documenary History" (pp. 11-12) this came in response to a note delivered by the Germans on May 4 protesting that the Soviet government still maintained diplomatic relations with these defeated and occupied states. This claim, however, is not sourced and I have not been able to find confirmation anywhere else that the Germans actually requested the closure of these embassies.

Perhaps someone here knows more?