Stability of solutions to differential equations with several variable delays. I

We consider a class of scalar linear differential equations with several variable delays and constant coefficients. A family of equations of the class is defined by coefficients and maximum admissible values of delays. We obtain conditions that are necessary and sufficient for the stability of solutions to all equations of the family. It is ascertained that the conditions are determined entirely by properties of the solution to the initial problem for an autonomous equation that belongs to the family. Some alternatives of required conditions are obtained in the form of estimates for solutions to autonomous equations in a finite interval.