WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

THE UNITED FRONT 559
been to set up a central body charged with the duty of continuously
surveying the field of operations as a whole and, by the
light of information derived from all fronts and from all Governments
and Staffs, of coordinating the plans prepared by the different
General Staffs, and, if necessary, of making proposals of
their own for the better conduct of the War. Should the House
desire an opportunity of discussing this important subject and my
Paris speech, the Government would propose to set aside Monday
next for the purpose."
A debate was arranged to take place in the House of
Commons on November 19th. On the day the discussion took
place, President Wilson issued a message indicating that he
was in complete accord with the action taken by the Allied
Governments, and that he was prepared not merely to associate
himself with the Council but to take an official part in its
deliberations:
"Colonel House, Head of the American Mission and Special
Representative of President Wilson in Europe, has received a
cable from the President stating emphatically that the Government
of the United States considers that unity of plan and control
between all the Allies and the United States is essential in
order to achieve a just and permanent peace.
"The President emphasises the fact that this unity must be
accomplished if the great resources of the United States are to be
used to the best advantage, and he requests Colonel House to
confer with the heads of the Allied Governments with a view to
achieving the closest possible cooperation.
"President Wilson has asked Colonel House to attend the first
meeting of the Supreme War Council with General Bliss, Chief
of Staff of the United States Army, as the Military Adviser. It is
hoped that the meeting will take place in Paris before the end
of this month."
In the debate Mr. Asquith was critical, but not as censorious
as those who supplied his brief would have wished.