On May 25th, the War Refugee Board sent cables to Lisbon, Stockholm, Ankara, Madrid, Bern, and the International Red Cross. The text of the cables were variations of the same message.  Deportations from Hungary and systematic mass extermination has begun. [The deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz began around May 15th.]  Since the US was at war with Hungary, the WRB could not act directly in Hungary, the way that neutral legations and the International Red Cross could. So in this cable, the WRB asked these countries and the Red Cross to increase their representation in Hungary. More boots on the ground meant more witnesses to deportations, and (the Board hoped) would act as a deterrent to deportations and atrocities.