The First Communist International Congress was held at Moscow in March 1919. It is called the Third International or Communist International; its constitution will be found in the _Labour International Handbook_, 1921, page 190. Shortly stated its purposes are the overthrow of capitalism, the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat and of the International Soviet Republic; the complete abolition of classes and the realization of revolutionary Socialism. Twenty-one conditions of membership, together with instructions for its members, are laid down, some of which are peculiarly illuminating as to Communist principles. Condition 3 says that “the class-struggle in almost every country of Europe and America is reaching the threshold of civil war. Under such circumstances the Communist can have no confidence in bourgeois laws. They should create everywhere a parallel illegal machinery which at the decisive moment will do its duty by the party and in every way possible assist the revolution. In every country where, in consequence of martial law or other exceptional laws, the Communists are unable to carry on their work lawfully, a combination of legal and illegal work is absolutely necessary.” The Communist Party of Great Britain is affiliated to the Third International, but the Independent Labour Party of this country, although it seceded from the Second International, refused to join the Third International, and published a scathing criticism of Bolshevism or Communism which appeared in the _Labour Leader_ of December 18, 1919. The Independent Labour Party is affiliated to yet another International, the body known as the Vienna International or the “Two and a Half.” I have set out these details in order to show the nature and the extent of the home and international socialistic programme which the Labour Party has pledged itself, if given the opportunity, to carry into operation. CHAPTER VII THE LABOUR PARTY’S ADOPTION OF SOCIALISM 5. APPROVAL OF DIRECT ACTION. The Meaning and Qualities of Direct Action—Direct Action on the Clyde, 1916—Conversion of the Labour Party to Use of Direct Action-Establishment of the Council of Action—Setting-up of Local Soviets. Perhaps the greatest menace to ordered constitutional government is the Labour Party’s acceptance of the method of direct action for enforcement of its policy upon an unconforming community. Many distinguished leaders of the Party have declared against the social dangers of wielding such a weapon, but in spite of such admonitions the Party has resorted to it, and created an elaborate machinery for its application; whereupon those distinguished leaders turned round and supported it as forcibly as they previously condemned it. Once any section of the nation becomes addicted to the facile use of such a species of organized tyranny—because it is nothing else—however humanitarian be the alleged aim or purpose, the death-knell of law and order has been sounded.