The cruiser red line at Washington

What lesser-known red lines could have collapsed the Washington Naval Treaty?

Serious interference with cruiser forces, especially those needed for imperial policing, was a major red line.

The panel identifies imperial cruiser requirements as a potential breaking point at Washington. Britain and other imperial powers relied on cruisers for policing their overseas commitments. Their need for ships explains the emphasis here on the 10,000-ton ceiling rather than an overall numerical cap. The Hawkins class is cited as the reference for a size limit that accommodated an existing British design.