The Coefficients was a monthly dining club founded in 1902 by the Fabian campaigners Sidney and Beatrice Webb as a forum for British socialist reformers and imperialists of the Edwardian era.
[2] The club's membership included:[3] Wells was recruited because he was deemed "capable of original thoughts on every subject" and proved to be "an especially active member".
[2] In 1903 Bertrand Russell, who believed that the Entente cordiale policy would lead to war, resigned after Edward Grey espoused it in a speech.
[4] The group was further divided over the issue of Tariff Reform following Joseph Chamberlain's resignation as Secretary of State for the Colonies and the increasing dominance of the pro-Unionist membership, which favoured Chamberlain and his tariff reform policies, contributed to the club's dissolution in 1909.
[5] Amery would invite those Coefficients supporting reform to form a new club called "The Compatriots".