Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-31

a train to the Western half Of
Berlin. The chances are the po-
lice won't ask him where he's
going. but he will have q passable
reason for travelling to Berlin II
he is asked. He takes the subway
or elevated from East Berlin into
the West sector. Again no ques-
tons are likely to be asked in
these days of comparative quiet
along the Berlin dividing line.
The Ell takes him to Q pleasant
residential section where he gets
OF within a few blocks Of the
well-known Free Jurist address:
LimastrasSe 20.
The headquarters Is a once
spacious private home. Now 1t Ii
crammed with files and eubby-
hole Offices.
The visitor tells the recep-
zionist the nature Of his problem.
He does not give his name or
address. Then he waits. usually
with scores Of other shabbily
dressed East Germans, for q
specialist in his particular prob
lem to be free. While waiting
the visitor politely avoids talk
ing to or even looking at the
other "clients." some Of whom
spend the waiting period with
their faces hidden behind .
newspaper. No one knows II
there might be an informer
present. so all respect the privacy
Of the others.
Aid Offered Free
The aid, Of course. is free.
The organization IL supported
by the Berlin government. pri-
vate organizations. the Interna-
tional Bar Association and the
International Commission Of
Jurists in The Hague. The Free
Jurists stress that they get no
money from any secret service
organization and that although
their information Is made avail
able to West German authorities.
they are not q Spy" organiza-
ton.
: The East German authorities
do not accept this, naturally.
and the Free Jurists are accused
Of being spies for the "im-
perialist gangsters." Free Jurists
have been kidnapped into the
East Zone. They continually are
harassed with threats from the
Communist routine.
What do the Free Jurists ae-
complish? They do not kid
themselves that they are in any
way capable Of overthrowing the
East German regime or saving
the people from the Communist
tyranny. But they believe they
do accomplish these things:
They maintain a standard Of
legality against which East Ger
man ofi1cial acts can easily be
measured. East Germany. with
its handsome constitution and
neat set Of laws. tries to main
tain a fiction Of legality and
justice. The Free Jurists make
is impossible for the government
TO pretend legality and provide
incentives for real legality TO be
attempted.
Cynical About Policies
East Germans. having become
cynical about all political sys-
TENS, are given "law" 10 cling to.
The traditional legal rights are
so ingrained in the public mind
that even the Communists must
pay them lip service and find
excuses when they are violated.
East Germans can rally around
these concepts of law.
Free Jurists say their actions
have led TO some easing Of the
pressure in the East Zone. The
Jurists made 1t harder for Of
ficials TO act illegally. They
know their crimes are being
recorded and they know that
several thousand East German
officials who have been forced
to fee to the West have already
been convicted In West German
courts Of crimes charged by the
Jurists.
BY keeping records on East
Germans, the Free Jurists main
tain the high unreliability rate
Of Eastern ofiicials. Out Of more
than 100000 East German ON
Gals, large and small, the Free
Jurists believe that only 10000
are genuine supporters Of the
regime. The rest are emporium
lists or "draftees." The Free
Jurists say they can help make
1t impossible for the Soviets to
rely on their own puppets.
And the Free Jurists say they
DerfOrm aAPvicea In tha Waat tn,il