Q&A · 53:34-54:09

Keeping the Anglo-Japanese Alliance at Washington

Two preliminary counterfactual branches consider treaty failure or an alliance maintained unofficially.

Question

What if Britain and Japan had refused to abandon their alliance at the Washington Naval Treaty?

Short answer

Two preliminary possibilities are suggested: the treaty fails, or the alliance formally ends while continuing unofficially.

Notes

Keeping the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is proposed as a possible obstacle to the Washington Naval Treaty itself. One hypothetical outcome is that Britain and Japan refuse to sacrifice the alliance and the treaty never exists. Another is that they officially end the alliance while maintaining it unofficially.