Why was the 14-inch gun pursued?

Was the 14-inch gun policy intended to constrain rival battleship programmes?

Britain pushed 14-inch guns in the Second London Treaty to encourage restraint, but the agreement failed while Britain still pursued the design.

The Washington Treaty used a 16-inch limit. Britain later pursued 14-inch restraint through the Second London Treaty, but continued building a 14-inch battleship after the arrangement had effectively failed. The policy no longer matched the strategic environment.