international harmony, but that that freedom and harmony would be at risk if communications were in private hands he found equally apparent. Wells sought international agreements to regulate world travel, and the return of air, sea and long-distance land transport to private ownership was a major obstacle to such an agreement. Private ownership, as far as Wells was concerned, was aggressive, either tending towards monopolisation within its particular sector or using national diplomacy to further its ends in world trade. Thus, in a world of nation-states, Wells feared the advocacy of war as a legitimate tool for capitalist expansion and with transport being an international phenomenon, it was the surest case for transnational control. This was reinforced by its potential for harm in war situations, where countries withgovernment, directly or indirectly elected by and responsible to the peoples for their common affairs, with national self-government for national affairs.

That any federation so formed shall be regarded as the first step towards ultimate world federation.

Through such a federation to secure peace, based on economic security and civil rights for all.

In a note to these aims was added

the federation would control foreign policy, armed forces and armaments. It would have substantial powers over tariffs, currency, migration, communications and similar matters. It would also have power to ensure that colonies and dependencies were administered in the interests of the inhabitants and not for the benefit of any particular country.

In addition to these ultimate aims, Federal Union declared two immediate aims intended to 'obtain a response [from belligerents and neutrals]