Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-10
World Conscience
Center Purposed
By HENRY WOOD

BY HENRY WOOD
(Rome Correspondent of the United
Press).
Rome, Feb. 1O.-The United States
is to be given the first chance of TAX
ing the lead for the realization of the
ideal city that is to serve as world
conscience center of all international
effort. This is the decision of Hen
drick Christian Andersen, founder of
the project, who has just returned to
his headquarters at Rome after hav-
ing presented his idea and perfected
plans to three more European rulers.
All of these pledged to it the fullest
support of their respective countries.
They were even anxious to take the
lead at once in utting the project into
! execution AS an American citizen,
however, Andersen has quite decided
that Uncle Sam must have at least
the first chance of doing this.
/ In making this decision Andersen
declares he is in no way daunted by
the hard luck experience in America
of David Lubin. When the latter, at
I his home in Los Angeles, conceived
an international institute of agricul-
ture that would bring the whole
world of agriculture into harmony and
that would give to the whole world the
benefit of whatever agricultural dis
coveries and science that might be de-
veloped in some particular country he
too, patriotically felt that the United
States should have the first chance of
making it a reality. Lubin, however,
was practically turned out of the state
department and other government Of
fees at Washington as crank. Then
he came to Italy with his idea and was
warmly welcomed by King Victor En-
anuel Italy at once built magnificent
palace to house the institute and in
vited the nations of the world to join.
At the present time 81 of the prin
lcipal agricultural countries of the
world maintain permanent represen-
tatives at Rome, instead of in Amer
lea, as might have been the case, and
the institute is now the largest inter
national undertaking of its kind in the
world.
Andersen's colossal plan for an ideal
city, in which every organization in
the world which has for its object the
betterment of mankind can have its
Headquarters, has been presented to
ten of the leading European countries.
4 Bv all of them it was enthusiastically
received On his last trip the founder
/ placed the plans, which during the Ia
years he has been WORKING on them
have been perfected down to the small
est architectural and engineering de-
tail, before the king of Belgium, the
government of France and the Prince
of Monaco.
! It was with actual difficulty that
Andersen refused the insistent offers
of the king of Belgium for the imr,e-
date construction and housing of the
city on tract of land near Brussels.
The site had been set aside by the late
King Leopold for somewhat similar
purpose and the present king was
most anxious that Belgium should be
the future home of the worlds center
of international efforts. The actual To-
cation of the city, however. Andersen
has decided must be selected by the
interparliamentary union at The
/ Hague after the various countries de-
siring to have it present their respect
i've claims.
/ At Paris Andersen presented his
plans in lecture at the Sorbonne
and later at a banquet attended by
Leon Bourgeois and all of the leading
political, literary, scientific and artis-
tic men of France. The reception of
It there was such that Andersen is
hopeful that France and the United
States, as the two leading republics
of the world, may be able to find a
common ground on which they can
take the lead in the matter. The last
presentation of the project before re-
turning to Rome was then made to the
Prince of Monaco who already has
worldwide reputation for the interna-
tonal research he has done in marine
studies and for the immense marine
museum he has erected at Monte Car
TO- He declared that the perfected
plans of Andersen materialiZed what
had been the dream of his entire life,
namely an international center for the
arts, sciences, industries, religions
and humanitarian work of the entire
world. His approval and support was
as unqualified as that of the King
of Italy and other foreign monarchs
to whom Andersen had previously pre-
sented his plans.
The next definite step to be taken
bv Andersen in the realization of his
project is the calling of congress,
probably in 1915, at which not only
the nations of the world will be of
ficially represented but all the great
international societies and congresses
of the world. Because of the fact
that the governments will be repre-
sented to this it is necessary that the
invitation to them be extended by one
of the leading powers. All of the gov
ernments to whom Andersen has al ,
ready presented his plans have ex-
dressed their willingness to take this !
initiative lead, but it is precisely this
that Andersen would prefer to have
done by his own country.
Within the next six months he will !
present to President Wilson and Sec
retary Bryan the full pI:ns as Ihev