Government departments could accurately say that naval officers were consulted throughout the treaty process. Consultation did not mean that professional advice determined the final allocations or technical rules. Naval influence appears greatest in the Washington negotiations and progressively weaker in the later agreements. Later limits could therefore become increasingly detached from fleet organisation, ship design, and operational requirements.
Notable Point · 2:34:22-2:34:41
How naval professional input declined across the treaty system
Naval officers participated in every negotiation, but their practical influence was strongest at Washington and weaker in later treaties.