  This is the first paper by Gunnar Nordstr{\"o}m (1881--1923) on his five
dimensional theory. In his summary he states: ''It is shown, that a unifying
treatment of the electromagnetic and gravitational fields is possible, if one
considers the four dimensional spacetime world to be a surface in a five
dimensional world.'' This paper was followed by two other papers written by the
Gunnar Nordstr{\"o}m during the one year period 1914--1915, on the same
subject, which are also made available here.
