Would Britain trade down at Washington?

Would Britain accept a 16-inch gun limit at Washington in exchange for concessions from the other powers?

Probably not. A victorious Britain would insist that the treaty protect its existing 16.5-inch-gun ships and would expect others to offer concessions for British participation.

Britain would negotiate from the standard established by its surviving and newly built ships. A fleet centred on 16.5-inch guns and 45,000- to 50,000-ton fast battleships would have little reason to accept a lower ceiling merely to obtain concessions. Britain could present participation as a benefit to the other powers, requiring them to bargain upward toward the British baseline. The tonnage discussed is standard displacement rather than full-load displacement, an important distinction when comparing treaty figures. This would produce a Washington system that restrained future competition while preserving the force structure created by victory.