The Italian government's diplomatic caution differed from the Regia Marina's strategic judgment. Rome initially waited to see whether international negotiations would reduce capital-ship displacement and gun caliber or abolish the type. The naval staff could support holding French battleships near 26,000 tons, but it did not accept surrendering capital ships altogether. It still regarded the battleship as the warship best suited to major combat at sea. This explains why Italy could advocate arms limitation while continuing to study ships that preserved parity with France.
Notable Point · 2:48-3:27
Italian capital-ship parity under disarmament uncertainty
Italy delays matching Dunkerque while disarmament talks remain unsettled, but the Regia Marina still regards battleships as essential to sea combat.