JERUSALEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 64, 16 March 1901, Page 2

JERUSALEM.

THE NATURAL CAPITAL OF THE AVORLD. (To the Editor of the Times).

Sik, —A short time ago, there was published in the Gisborne Times an article from my pen entitled “ The Federation of the World and International Disarmament.” To one believing that the federation of the world and international disarmament are within measurable distance, it may not seem out of place to ask the question, Where, in the event of all the nations federating into one power or kingdom, should the world’s capital be built ?

It is evident that the most suitable site for the capital would bo a position with a healthy climate, centrally situated, and easily accessible from all parts of the world. London, Chicago, ar any existing capital would not be altogether suitable ; but, on looking at the map of the world, we find Jerusalem to be the most central and accessible spot on the face of this planet. For not only do we find Jerusalam centrally situated to the three continents —Europe, Asia, and Africa, but it is also accessible by the Red Sea from the Australasian Colonies and from the southern portions of Asia, etc., and also by the Mediterranean Sea from England, America, and the west and south coasts of Europe, and the northern coast of Africa.

Thus there seems no place on -tills planet more suitably situated than Jerusalem as the capital of the world. And as, if guided by a Divine instinct, certain individuals have been imbibed with a strong passion to build neat and costly transcontinental railways w ithout any premeditated plan, rill 'seeming to make more or loss directly towards Jerusalem. Thus the Cape to Cairo railway and the great Russian trans-conti-nental railroad (and I presume there is a railway across Europe running more or less directly towards the centre), all seem to point to Palestine as then- ultimate destination. Jerusalem being thus so admirably situated for a centre where delegates from all parts of the world may meet, it is reasonable to expect that, ere many years, conferences of world-wide importance, such as the Parliament of Religions (now periodically held at Chicago), conferences to discuss international disarmament and the federation of the w£ ,a national disputes to be settled by arbitration which migne *° war, and other matters of general moment to the world in general will be held there. —I am, etc., C. P. W. Longdill.