America's priority: peace without a naval bill

Harding opposed League membership on sovereignty grounds and favoured limited government spending. Naval construction therefore competed with a broader effort to reduce federal commitments after the First World War. The merchant fleet acquired during the war created a related disposal problem: ships proved difficult to sell even at a loss, and many were scrapped. Reducing that carrying fleet also reduced the commercial rationale offered for a navy operating around the world. The later discussion connects the same reluctance to expenditure on ports and other maritime infrastructure. Treaty limits offered a way to reduce naval construction while keeping these wider costs down.