  We consider the interference of two overlapping ideal Bose-Einstein
condensates. The usual description of this phenomenon involves the introduction
of a so-called condensate wave functions having a definite phase. We
investigate the origin of this phase and the theoretical basis of treating
interference. It is possible to construct a phase state, for which the particle
number is uncertain, but phase is known. However, how one would prepare such a
state before an experiment is not obvious. We show that a phase can also arise
from experiments using condensates in Fock states, that is, having known
particle numbers. Analysis of measurements in such states also gives us a
prescription for preparing phase states. The connection of this procedure to
questions of ``spontaneously broken gauge symmetry'' and to ``hidden
variables'' is mentioned.
