A British alternative at the Washington Naval Conference

What alternative negotiating position could Britain have taken at the Washington Naval Conference?

Britain could have pressed for a larger capital-ship limit, supported a 10:7 accommodation for Japan, and preserved more hulls rather than accepting so deep a numerical contraction.

The alternative was not simply to reject arms control. Britain could seek a higher capital-ship tonnage ceiling and support a ten-to-seven relationship that gave Japan more status while retaining more ships overall. The treaty becomes a negotiation among security, prestige, alliance management, and fleet numbers rather than a table of limits alone.