Editorial Note
At his press conference on August 30, Secretary Acheson made the following statement:
“I have been advised that an election law for the October 15, 1950 elections to the East German parliament has been passed by the so-called German Democratic Republic, the puppet Communist regime which the Soviet Union has established in Eastern Germany. Contrary to one of the basic principles of democratic practice, this election law makes absolutely no provision for a secret vote. I understand that according to the law, the voter is handed the ballot as he enters the voting place. His name is checked off a list. If he desires, he may then make a change on the ballot although no booth or other secret place is provided for him to do that. If he makes a change he is automatically recognized as an anti-Communist, for those voting the Communist ticket do not have to make any indication whatever on the ballot. The voter is then required to drop his ballot into an urn. This entire process takes place in front of the voting board, the members of which are all members of the Communist Party or its affiliated organization. I hardly need point out how brazen an example this is of typical Communist degradation of the democratic process.” (Department of State Press Release #883, August 30, 1950)