Washington Treaty carrier-gun logic

Would separate tonnage totals have made Washington Naval Treaty negotiations more flexible for carrier and cruiser choices?

Imagined tonnage totals would have been a poor negotiating point, and Lexington-style eight-inch guns make more sense under later cruiser limits than under the Washington Treaty itself.

The Washington Naval Treaty differed from later London Treaty logic. Under Washington, carrier and capital-ship totals existed but cruiser totals did not, so a navy could build cruiser escorts rather than loading carrier designs with cruiser guns. This distinction explains why Lexington and Saratoga are not a simple template for later carrier policy.