Over 350 Local Councils of Action, in many districts called Soviets, were organized to carry out the instructions of the central Council of Action. Somewhat amusing was it to see how quickly the Council of Action, when it realized that public opinion was setting strongly against it, at once disclaimed any intention of calling a general strike in support of Soviet Russia. All it intended at the utmost “was to veto the manufacture or transport of munitions or equipment for the Poles,” The Council quickly appreciated that the nation would not tolerate the application in this country of revolutionary methods. One of the reasons advanced for the formation of the Council of Action was to “prevent interference by the British Government in the affairs of Soviet Russia,” No sooner, however, was it formed, than two delegates[6] of the Council went to Paris, there to interfere between the French Government and French Labour. A little logic was infused into them by the French Government, who promptly ordered them out of France. CHAPTER VIII THE LABOUR PARTY’S INDUSTRIAL AND LAND POLICY 1. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSALS The Industries and Businesses to be Nationalized—Extension of Municipal Enterprise—Control of Capitalistic Industries and Businesses—Labour’s Agricultural Policy—Abolition of Landlordism—Councils for Agriculture—A Legal Minimum Agricultural Wage—Workers’ Control of Agriculture. We have already given a general outline of Labour’s policy; it now remains to set out its particular proposals in regard to the reconstruction of industry. These we take from _Labour and the New Social Order_, published in 1918. If, as is not unlikely, readers feel aggrieved by want of definiteness, it is not the fault of the author, but of the Labour Party. The Industries and Businesses to be Nationalized