Would fewer treaties delay carrier development?

Would the absence of naval treaties delay aircraft-carrier development?

Probably not; unrestricted competition could prompt navies to build large carriers earlier in response to one another.

Once one navy builds a large carrier, rivals have strong incentives to follow. Without tonnage limits, designers could pursue purpose-built flight decks without fitting them into treaty categories or conversion allowances. A capital-ship race might therefore include carrier construction rather than crowding aviation out. Treaty limits shaped the historical path, but their absence would not necessarily suppress experimentation. Large fleet carriers might emerge earlier through competitive escalation.