Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:02:27-1:03:23

Would Lenin accept naval parity with Japan?

In the treaty counterfactual, parity with Japan gives Lenin a plausible starting point, while Japanese objections could increase pressure on the wider agreement.

Naval TreatiesSoviet NavyWashington Naval Treaty
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Question

Would the Soviet Union demand parity with Britain and the United States for the recognition it conferred?

Short answer

Lenin would probably accept parity with Japan as a starting point, although Japan would then demand a larger allowance.

Notes

Lenin's Soviet Union is distinguished from Stalin's when judging what treaty status Moscow would accept. Parity with Japan could supply recognition as a second-rank naval power while still leaving a construction allowance that would take years to fill. Japan, having recently fought Russia, would probably insist on an increase of its own. That could also affect American battleship calculations.