Premier Mohammed Mossadegh recently conducted an election [referendum] to determine the “will of the people” on the matter of dissolving the Iranian parliament. The vote turned out to be 99 per cent in favor of Mossadegh.

At first glance the election might seem to be a domestic way of finding out just what the people want done. A second look, however, is not so reassuring.

The balloting was not secret. There were separate polling places for pro and con voters and each voter had to mark his ballot with his name and address. Unless balloting is secret, elections are undemocratic.

In a state where one man has a great deal of power, as Mossadegh does in Iran, voting against the administration might prove to be unwise when the vote is a matter of public record. The elections give Mossadegh the show of public support he wanted. But any pretense that this is democracy is a profanation of the word. Many totalitarian offenses are committed in the name of free elections.