By 22 May 1917 he had learned of the mutinies in the French Army and travelled to the front to make an assessment.
The mutinies had first rumbled during the slaughter at Verdun the previous year (especially during the costly counterattacks by Nivelle and Mangin) and had erupted in earnest after the failure of the Nivelle Offensive in the spring of 1917.
Spears was called to London to report on French morale to the War Policy Cabinet Council – a heavy responsibility.
Spears recorded in a 1964 BBC interview that Lloyd George asked repeatedly for assurances that the French would recover.
At one point Spears said
“You can shoot me if I am wrong – I know how important it is and will stake my life on it."
Lloyd George was still not satisfied: “Will you give me your word of honour as an officer and a gentleman that the French Army will recover?”.
Spears was so stung by this that he replied "The fact that you ask me that shows you know the meaning of neither".

Spears heard of French dissatisfaction which was expressed on 7 July at a secret parliamentary session.
Left wing deputies declared that the British had suffered 300,000 casualties as opposed to 1,300,000 by the French.
Furthermore, they were holding a front of 138 kilometres (86 mi), whereas the French held 474 kilometres (295 mi).

 In the wake of the Russian revolution, efforts were made to revive the Eastern Front and detach Bulgaria from the Central Powers.
In Paris, Spears worked to promote these ends and received the added task of liaising with the Polish army.
By 22 May 1917 he had learned of the mutinies in the French Army and travelled to the front to make an assessment. The mutinies had first rumbled during the slaughter at Verdun the previous year (especially during the costly counterattacks by Nivelle and Mangin) and had erupted in earnest after the failure of the Nivelle Offensive in the spring of 1917. Spears was called to London to report on French morale to the War Policy Cabinet Council – a heavy responsibility. Spears recorded in a 1964 BBC interview that Lloyd George asked repeatedly for assurances that the French would recover. At one point Spears said
“You can shoot me if I am wrong – I know how important it is and will stake my life on it." Lloyd George was still not satisfied: “Will you give me your word of honour as an officer and a gentleman that the French Army will recover?”. Spears was so stung by this that he replied "The fact that you ask me that shows you know the meaning of neither".
Spears heard of French dissatisfaction which was expressed on 7 July at a secret parliamentary session. Left wing deputies declared that the British had suffered 300,000 casualties as opposed to 1,300,000 by the French. Furthermore, they were holding a front of 138 kilometres (86 mi), whereas the French held 474 kilometres (295 mi).
 In the wake of the Russian revolution, efforts were made to revive the Eastern Front and detach Bulgaria from the Central Powers. In Paris, Spears worked to promote these ends and received the added task of liaising with the Polish army.
Edward Spears