Early response is critical, early detection is a condition precedent.
早期反应至关重要，早期发现是先决条件。
美国历史
To these notes the Central Powers replied that they were ready to meet their antagonists in a peace conference;and Allied Powers answered by presenting certain conditions precedent to a satisfactory settlement.
A condition precedent is an event or state of affairs that is required before something else will occur. In contract law, a condition precedent is an event which must occur, unless its non-occurrence is excused, before performance under a contract becomes due, i.e., before any contractual duty exists.