How naval treaties enabled the Ten Year Rule

How did the naval treaties strengthen Treasury control and the Ten Year Rule?

They supplied an accepted limit on construction that made further readiness and spending cuts easier to defend politically.

Formal limits did more than cap individual ship types. Once international agreements constrained construction, the Treasury could use that framework to justify reduced readiness, personnel, and political support for continuing programmes. The Ten Year Rule gained force from a political environment already committed to restraint. Without naval treaties, the traditional case for preparing in peace would retain a stronger institutional base.