there would remain the third function which it exercises at present, to wit the regulation of international affairs; and it is clear that in modern times the question of peace and war is almost 284 altogether wielded by capitalistic exigencies, so that this function also would fail the political nation when capitalism fell. There would be nothing left for it to do; it would simply die out. Indeed we may be sure that the growing understanding on industrial questions is already tending, by destroying national jealousies, to the making an end of the destructive part of the functions of central governments. Hence, even before the political nation falls into its last stages of decay, we may hope to see a central arbitrating body depriving it of the business which in the past has seemed especially essential to it.
This is already gone so far that an important proposal is on foot as a plank in the socialist programme: namely, the suggestion of the formation of an international board of arbitration, immediately for the purpose of avoiding war by the adjudication of disputes. This might easily be made to develop into an international Parliament. The substitution