France's bargaining position at Washington

What could France gain at the Washington Naval Conference with its best negotiators, and how would that affect relations with Britain and Italy?

France might argue for more capital ships, but Italy would demand parity and France's weak postwar fleet and economy left it little leverage; gains for France would tend to raise Italian or wider totals too.

France needed enough capital ships to contain Italy and support colonial commitments, perhaps eight to ten in total. An ocean-based allocation formula could express those needs, but the treaty did not limit cruisers. Any extra capital-ship allowance for France would also invite matching Italian or wider claims. Even better negotiators could not erase France's damaged economy and weak fleet position.