The editor raised an important question. I have attended several meetings of the ITU s organs. I have felt that we were indulging in a luxury which is merely emotional and too little utilitarian by having six official languages and simultaneous translations.
Reality is otherwise.
We cannot say why Japanese should not be the seventh language on the basis of economic power and why Hindi cannot be the eighth on the basis of population. And who knows what other mighty criteria cannot be advanced. But all these cost to the ITU and members least concerned with national prestige, but only need comprehension and utility. I therefore suggest that only English be retained as the official language for which ITU incurs costs. All other language translations and publications may be paid for by the beneficiaries.