Four Italian light carriers would strain the treaty system

What happens if Italy builds four 15,000-ton Bonfiglietti carriers within the treaty system?

Their cumulative capability would alarm other powers and could trigger an earlier treaty breakdown or a new distinction between light- and fleet-carrier tonnage.

Four 15,000-ton carriers would give Italy enough carrier strength to alarm the other treaty powers in this scenario. The main constraint identified for Britain and the United States is their cumulative carrier allowance: a 27,000-ton limit could accommodate a capable individual ship, but roughly five such carriers could not meet all their commitments. Italian construction could therefore bring an earlier treaty breakdown. An alternative treaty would distinguish fleet carriers of up to about 30,000 tons from light fleet carriers of up to about 15,000 tons. Its illustrative bargain gives each category a separate 150,000-ton allowance. These figures describe a hypothetical settlement.