The neutrality arrangements allow belligerents to reach their own recognized colonies and bases. Britain can sustain Royal Navy forces in the South Atlantic, including near the River Plate, while a German raider has no equivalent regional support network. That British presence helps explain why Royal Navy ships are available when Admiral Graf Spee later reaches the River Plate. Every warship must contend with distance, weather, time, politics, and the location of usable support. Britain has the Falkland Islands and other Atlantic or Caribbean bases, while Germany lacks comparable footholds. Despite the region's commitment to neutrality, the convention is more damaging to German ambitions than to British operations because British logistics are already in place.
Notable Point · 4:49-6:56
British bases preserve Royal Navy reach near the River Plate
The convention leaves British access to imperial bases intact, giving the Royal Navy a logistical advantage that helps explain its presence at the River Plate.