Conseil supérieur de la Marine explained

The French: Conseil supérieur de la Marine (CSM, Superior Naval Council) was an advisory body to the Minister of the Navy that was formed on 5 December 1889.^[1] It consisted of the Chief of the Naval Staff, the French: Directeur du matérial (Director of Equipment), the French: Directeur de l'artillerie and various admirals. "The CSM advised the minister on the military characteristics of new designs and drew up the staff requirements including displacement, offensive/defensive qualities, speed and endurance."^[2]

Bibliography

• Book: Militaires en République (1870–1962): les officiers, le pouvoir et la vie publique en France. fr. Forcade. Olivier. Duhamel . Eric. Vial. Philippe. Guelton. Frédéric . Les hautes instances de la Défense nationale sous la Troisième République. Publications de la Sorbonne. 1999. amp.
• Book: Jordan . John . Caresse . Philippe . French Battleships of World War One . 2017 . Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland . 978-1-59114-639-1 . amp.

Notes and References

1. Guelton, pp. 58–59
2. Jordan & Caresse, p. 20