On July 24th I called on the Prime Minister and left with him some statements on the subject of the ill treatment

to which certain Jews are alleged to have been subjected. I did not ask him for an immediate answer, but requested an examination into the matter. [...]

In my opinion this ex parte statement puts the case for the Hungarian Government in an unduly favorable light, but I also believe that the dispatches sent by the American Joint Relief Association are at least equally prejudiced. Although the treatment meted out to many of these unfortunates has been unnecessarily severe and in some cases flagrantly unjust, roughness on the part of those in authority, and hardship do not shock the susceptibilities of people accustomed to the habits and standard of living that prevail in eastern Europe, as they would Americans.