Tillman's racism could distort the Japanese treaty ratio in opposite directions

How might Senator Tillman's racial views affect a Washington naval conference he influenced?

They could produce either insulting pressure for 5:3 or an underestimating concession toward 10:7, while his desire for more construction pushes the settlement upward.

Tillman's documented racism becomes an operational variable in treaty diplomacy. It could lead him to underestimate Japanese capability and permit a 10:7 ratio because a larger Japanese fleet also justified more American construction. It could instead make him more insulting while pressing the historical 5:3 balance. Tillman's pragmatism and overriding interest in shipyard jobs make the first outcome plausible despite his prejudice. Either route changes the number and tonnage of ships Japan may build and therefore the scale of the entire settlement. Domestic politics and personal bias can alter arms-control arithmetic.