Business: Ericsson to I. T. & T.

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In 1923 Col. Sosthenes (Greek for "life strength") Behn went to Spain where he saw an opportunity to make his International Telephone & Telegraph Corporation more international. In Madrid he encountered much excitement. Bidding against him for the Spanish telephone system were Ericsson Co. of Sweden and Siemens & Halske of Germany. Col. Behn cabled for a corps of U. S. engineers, accountants and typists, shut his troops in a hotel suite, sat up many a night writing newly modified contracts. After strenuous haggling that lasted nearly a year. Col. Behn obtained ex-King Alfonso's then valuable signature, and, consequently, a potent toehold on the Continent.