A fee-based alternative to Washington Treaty ship limits

Which navies would exploit a Washington Treaty system that allowed ships to exceed limits in return for progressively higher annual fees?

Britain and the United States could afford to use it, while Japan might also participate; the result would be larger and different ships rather than strict adherence to the historical caps.

A fee for treaty overages would turn technical limits into a way to buy strategic flexibility. Wealthy signatories could pay to enlarge selected ships, while escalating charges would still discourage unlimited growth. A King George V-class design might use another five or six thousand tons to improve speed and correct compromises. Replacing a hard ceiling with a price would redistribute naval power toward states with deeper budgets.