MacDonald's political weakness becomes bargaining leverage

MacDonald had to balance his backbenchers, the opposition, and the Admiralty, making any public agreement vulnerable to domestic collapse. That apparent weakness did not eliminate his leverage because there could be no effective treaty without Britain. Congress was unlikely to fund a major American expansion unless Britain visibly began one, giving MacDonald room to threaten withdrawal without launching an immediate battleship race. In this interpretation, Congress associated Alfred Thayer Mahan's arguments with the battle line and the largest guns. One hypothetical British option was a force of 33,000- to 35,000-ton fast battleships carrying nine 14-inch or 15-inch guns. The proposed calculation was that smaller guns could attract less American political attention while allowing Britain to replace older ships. This position may have helped Britain preserve room for destroyer and submarine construction and secure a more favorable cruiser arrangement.