Mission and treaty constraints on a British large cruiser

How could the Royal Navy justify and design a 9.2- or 12-inch large cruiser?

Only after treaty restrictions ceased and capacity existed; its actual form would follow the intended mission rather than gun caliber alone.

A large cruiser could not proceed under interwar treaty limits, and wartime yards were more valuable for light carriers and other urgent ships. The obstacle was therefore first treaty law and then scarce industrial capacity, not merely a Treasury argument. If circumstances permitted construction, the Royal Navy would begin with mission rather than gun caliber. A general cruiser might develop from County ideas, a fleet-combat ship from F3 or Nelson concepts, and a commerce-protection cruiser from a different endurance-led design. Armor, speed, range, and armament would follow that intended employment.