THE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS 



OF THE 



CONTINENT OF EUROPE 



INTRODUCTION 



DURING the discussions on the existing state and future con- 

 duct of telephony in the United Kingdom which have taken 

 place pretty continuously during the last few years, many references 

 have cropped up to foreign and, more especially, to continental 

 practice. Statements have frequently been made as to the exis- 

 tence of what to the British public have appeared fabulously low 

 rates in Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, and elsewhere 

 statements to which support was given, from time to time, by 

 various consular reports. The facts set forth, the believers in, and 

 advocates of, low rates in this country have endeavoured occa- 

 sionally to turn to their advantage in argument, but, owing to lack 

 of exact information and the denials of their opponents, with little 

 result. The apologists of the existing monopoly have either 

 traversed in toto the truth of the statements or have declared that 

 the conditions under which such rates exist are radically different 

 from those which obtain in the United Kingdom. They have 

 asserted, for example, that the low rates are not inclusive of all 

 charges ; that the subscribers have to pay the cost of their lines 

 or instruments, or both, and, after connection, for any repairs 

 that may be necessary ; that foreign telephone companies are not 

 burdened with such payments to the Government as are imposed 

 on the National Telephone Company here ; that foreign adminis- 



B 



