What does imperial designs mean?

Answer 1

In a World War I context, but also true in most other contexts, 'imperial designs' is best defined as 'the intent of one nation to bring another nation under its administration and control.' The intention may not be malicious at root; however, it is in all cases a matter of seeking to gain control of another nation's natural resources, ports, trade-routes, territory, and sovereignty, and henceforth to manipulate these for the sake of one's own national enhancement and profit.