In early 1884, the Fabian Society was founded "to discuss the Condition of England and what might be done about it." [1] Initially considered another London "drawing room society," within five years the Fabian Society became nationally known as a group of serious thinkers. Though the period was noted for several important essays in which Fabian Socialism and the idea of "permeation" (or the idea of working within the existing political system and apparatus to promote socialism) were defined — culminating in the famous Fabian Essays (1889) which greatly expanded the Society’s notice beyond the narrow world of London intelligentsia — it was also noted for the first opinions on the issue of imperialism from Fabians. In 1885, only one year after the Society’s founding, founding member William Clarke, arguing that imperial federation was an idea of extreme folly that could lead to unnecessary conflict, wrote:
- There is practically no possibility of war between England and any of her Colonies, or between any two or more of these Colonies. But, on the other hand, it is possible that England’s connection with two of them might involve her in war. South Africa might involve her in war with the Dutch, which, in view of current movements both in Europe and Africa, would sooner or later mean war with Germany. Canada might involve her in war with the United States.[2]
Imperial federation, he argued, would not mean the "developing still further a power already existing... [but rather] would be attempting to create a new power, and in so doing would inevitably meet with strong resistance." As this would lead to a greater likelihood of conflict and even war, Clarke pointed out that the "the path to peace" lay in different policies. Having an empire was bad enough as it exposed Britain to the risk of unnecessary conflict, but the expansion of it was far worse. [3]
Though Clarke’s opinions as quoted above were in many respects similar to those expressed by (Prime Minister) W.E. Gladstone and other fellow critics of imperial expansion during that time, Gladstone would not have agreed with him on why imperial federation and expansion were being sought after. Almost twenty years before J.A. Hobson wrote his landmark study on imperialism, Clarke wrote:
- The real motive-power, therefore, of this agitation for Imperial federation becomes perfectly obvious. It is by no means a great humanitarian movement for securing peace on earth and goodwill among men. It is, stripped of all the pretentious verbiage and vague rhetoric with which it has been adorned, an attempt on the part of certain interests to maintain their hold over mankind. The militaristic and aristocratic class has joined hands in this matter with a large section of the capitalist class in order to secure the promotion of English financial interests... [4]
