FOREWORD (1) The formal decisions of agreements of the I E C on technical matters@ prepared by Technical Committees on which all the National Committees having a special interest therein are represented@ express@ as nearly as possible@ an international consensus of opinion on the subjects dealt with (2) They have the form of recommendations for international use and they are accepted by the National Committees in that sense (3) In order to promote this international unification@ the I E C expresses the wish that all National Committees having as yet no national rules@ when preparing such rules@ should use the I E C recommendations as the fundamental basis for these rules in so far as national conditions will permit. (4) The desirability is recognized of extending international agreement on these matters through an endeavour to harmonize national standarization rules with these recommendations in so far as national conditions will permit. The National Committees pledge their influence towards that end