Why equal post-Jutland fleets would fail at Washington

Would giving Britain, the United States, and Japan five post-Jutland capital ships each have been better than the historical treaty?

It might produce cleaner fleets, but Japanese parity was politically unacceptable; a five-five-three compromise was the realistic ceiling.

A five-five-five settlement could be militarily cleaner, but American negotiators would not accept Japan receiving the same capital-ship strength as Britain and the United States. A more plausible five-five-three formula would allow Britain several Nelson- or F3-type ships, the United States to finish part of the Colorado program, and Japan a smaller modern force. Even then, delegates would dispute what counted as a post-Jutland design.