USS Enterprise's 19,800-long-ton standard displacement shows that an effective carrier could sit well below the proposed maximum. More tonnage need not mean only larger ships; navies could choose more 20,000- to 22,000-ton carriers instead. A larger allowance did not guarantee that Congress or Parliament would fund every possible hull. It could also buy protection, as later American interest in the armoured Midway class suggests. Because Britain and the United States possessed the largest maritime industrial bases, they were better positioned to reach a higher ceiling than Japan. Japan would have to sacrifice other construction and spend years pursuing its allotted ratio, so nominal equality of access would still favor the powers best able to use it.
Notable Point · 1:05:06-1:08:00
Higher treaty limits favor the strongest shipbuilding powers
Britain and America could exploit larger allowances faster than Japan because their maritime industries and economies already had greater depth.