Fused, Honored

Away from London, last week, sped heads of every important communications system in the British Empire. They were well pleased with themselves, for they had just agreed that, with the consent of the Dominion and Imperial Parliaments, they would merge all their services into a single, gigantic corporation. And they had guarded against internal wars between radio and cable factions. They had asked the government to keep the balance of power.

The U. S., with three independent, competing systems, was not so well pleased. International Tel. and Tel. merged, this spring, with the telegraph and cable companies of Clarence Hungerford Mackay. But Radio Corporation of America, restrained by federal act, cannot fuse with cable companies, cannot merge with International Tel. and Tel. or with the mighty Western Union system. Divided, competitive, U. S. cable and radio chiefs wondered how they were to battle Britain, already ahead, for first place in the world of international communications.

Perhaps in sympathy. His Most Catholic Majesty, King Alfonso XIII of Spain last week honored Brothers Sosthenes and Hernand Behn, molders of International Tel. and Tel., which operates the Spanish telephones (TIME, April 2). Brothers Behn may now inscribe upon their visiting cards, if they like, this title: Commander of the Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic.