plˈænz fɚðə kˈɑːnfɹəns hɐdbɪn dɹˈɔːn ˌʌp baɪ hˈaɪnɹɪtʃ vˈɑːn stˈɛfən, pˈoʊstmæstɚdʒˈɛnɚɹəl ʌvðə dʒˈɜːmən ɹˈaɪxspoʊst hˌuː dᵻmˈændᵻd fɹʌmðə nˈuːtɹəl swˈɪtsɚlənd ðɪ ˌɔːɹɡɐnᵻzˈeɪʃən əvən ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl pˈoʊstəl kˈɑːŋɡɹəs fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌvðə fɹˈɛntʃdʒˈɜːmən wˈɔːɹ ʌv wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn.
Plans for the conference had been drawn up by Heinrich von Stephan, Postmaster-General of the German Reichspost who demanded from the neutral Switzerland the organization of an International Postal Congress following the end of the French-German war of 1870–1871.