Is it for the purpose of emigration?
In Europe, America and all the British colonies, so far as I know, white people, unless they are paupers or undesirables, can emigrate to any country and after a short period become naturalized.
Some statesmen would say that it is necessary for a great power to have naval bases or coaling stations in several parts of the world.

This presupposes preparations for war; but if international peace were maintained, such possessions would be useless and the money spent on them wasted.

In any case it is unproductive expenditure.

It is the fashion for politicians (and I am sorry to find them supported by eminent statesmen) to preach the doctrine of armaments; they allege that in order to preserve peace it is necessary to be prepared for war, that a nation with a large army or navy commands respect, and that her word carries weight.

This argument cuts both ways, for a nation occupying such a commanding position may be unreasonable and a terror to weaker nations.