Why treaty export construction differed from disposing of warships

Did the naval treaties prohibit building warships for countries outside the treaty system?

No. The cited construction clause permits treaty-compliant foreign orders, while separate provisions concern disposal and taking over undelivered ships during war.

A claim that the treaties banned construction for non-signatories prompts a reading of the relevant clauses. Article 15 is used to show that export construction was permitted within the limits for comparable treaty ships, with a 27,000-ton ceiling for carriers. The later explanation distinguishes that new construction from transferring a navy's existing warships under the disposal restriction. A further wartime clause prevents taking over another customer's undelivered ship. The interpretation therefore separates the design limits, disposal restrictions and treatment of foreign orders during war.