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divided into a large number of independent states, made the 
provision of a network, such as America possessed, highly ne- 
cessary. But in all European countries the endeavour was 
made to pave the way for such a development by adapting 
the telephone systems within each country, so that subsequently 
they could be linked up into a network covering the whole of 
Europe. Before even the Universal Telegraph Union could 
resume its work after the war, the telephone engineers of all 
the more important countries, from the view-point of inter- 
communication, combined to formulate a plan for a general- 
European telephone system. This task is far more difficult 
than the regulation of international telegraph service. In 
telegraphy hitherto, technical questions were of comparatively 
minor importance. The problems which had to be dealt with 
were mainly those relating to service and tariffs, the solution 
of which, after 50 years of co-operation, is comparatively easy. 
When we consider telephony, the task is a far more difficult 
one, and principally involves technical questions. It was, and 
is, necessary to arrive at an understanding regarding all the 
details of the complicated technique of long distance telephony, 
which is always in a state of flux. And such understanding, 
once arrived at, must be maintained. Only if the plant used 
for communication between the various countries is similar 
and of equally high standards, and operated in accordance 
with the same regulations down to the smallest detail, is it 
possible to develop a satisfactory and efficient system of tele- 
phonic communication. Moreover, telephonic communication 
differs from telegraphic in as much as the interchange of com- 
munication takes place, not between one office and another, 
but between the two individuals actually speaking, whereby 
the same apparatus and, to a great extent, the same network, 
is used both for internal and international service. The na- 
tural and inevitable result of this is, that the agreements on 
technical questions necessary for the international service have 
a great influence on the essential parts of the internal service, 
and therefore, a great degree of standardisation of the entire 
European telephone service is an essential requirement, if a 
satisfactory international service is to be achieved. 
~ Thanks to the confidence existing between the telegraph 
authorities of the various countries, an achievement of the 
Universal Telegraph Union, which was very quickly re- 
established after the war, the work of the engineers of the 
various countries has made a most promising beginning. A 
preliminary conference took place in 1923, and in May 1924, 
the Telephone Engineers of Europe met in Paris, on the in- 
vitation of the French Telegraph Department, for the first