The gap between treaty limits and national aims

Britain obtained capital-ship parity and room to build cruisers, but the larger proposed programme depended on contributions that did not follow. France still faced competing demands for Mediterranean forces and colonial defence. The United States obtained spending reductions and limits on other fleets. The criticism offered is that the same settlement increased Japanese insecurity by falling below the ratio Japan sought. This closing interpretation distinguishes agreement on treaty terms from satisfaction of the security concerns that brought the governments to Washington.