17 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 15

Painleve had earlier in the day explained to the Chamber

the significance of the Supreme War Council, which he regarded as a step towards the unity of command that might become possible hereafter. He said that Sir Douglas Haig had agreed to take over at a very early date a further portion of the Western Front. The victory on the Aisne had placed some divisions at the disposal of the French command for the supreme effort to prevent the enemy from obtaining a "showy victory" this year. Moreover, Great Britain and France had agreed to share their food supplies and other necessary imports. The Chamber gave its approval to the statement and to the Premier by a vote of 250 to 192, but, as we have seen, it reversed its view of the Ministry at a later stage of the sitting.