This paper considers a linear time-invariant network

, made of lumped and distributed elements (

transformers, gyrators, controlled and independent sources, transmission lines). The positive number

is a small number, proportional to the size of the stray lumped energy-storing elements: as

the stray elements disappear: stray capacitors (inductors) become open (short, respectively) circuits. The problem is to find what additional condition is required to guarantee that if

--the network

, with

set to zero-is input-output stable, then for any

sufficiently small

, is also input-output stable. The additional condition requires that some approximate "high-frequency" network be also input-output stable. It is also shown that if either of these conditions fail so does the input-output stability of

for any

sufficiently small.