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With the post-World War I demobilization of the Allies wartime forces, the overriding need to return to "normalcy" or to address other national issues, particularly budgetary ones, drove the governments of the major post-war powers to consider the need for disarmament, or at least reasonable constraint of the naval arms race that was already getting underway.
In November 1921, based on overtures to the respective governments by President Warren Harding's Secretary of State, Charles Evans Hughes, governmental representatives of Great Britain, France, Japan and Italy met with their United States counterparts in Washington, DC. Secretary Hughes' specific proposals were laid out in the first plenary session of the conference as the basis for discussion. The final provisions were worked out by the technical committees.
The basic provisions of the treaty were based on the existing strength of navies - which meant those ships already built or were building - and included:
A ten-year "holiday" in
capital ship construction, which by definition and usage meant the battleship
type of ship (which was later extended until
1936 by the London Conference of 1930).
A scrapping program - with specific ships named - that would result in a 5:5:3
ratio of ships among the United States, Great Britain, and Japan.
Ultimate stabilization of the world's capital ships at 500,000 tons each for
Great Britain and the United States; 300,000 for Japan; and 175,000 each for
France and Italy.
Aircraft carrier allowances should be 135,000 tons for Great Britain and the
United States; 81,000 for Japan; and 60,000 each for France and Italy.
No capital ship (battleship) could be completed with tonnage (displacement)
greater than 35,000 tons, standard load.
No aircraft carrier could exceed 27,000 tons, standard load.
No battleship gun could exceed a 16-inch bore diameter.
No cruiser gun could exceed an 8-inch bore diameter.
A non-fortification clause which provided that:
The Pacific powers were not to arm or fortify bases in their island possessions,
with the following exceptions: Japan could do so in their home islands and
the United States could do so in the Hawaiian Islands.
Great Britain was prohibited from fortifying Hong Kong, Borneo, the Solomons,
and the Gilberts.
Japan was barred from further fortifying Formosa, the Marianas (less Guam),
and the Carolines.
The United States was prohibited from fortifying Samoa, Wake, Guam, and, most
importantly, the Philippines.
This provision did not apply to Australia or New Zealand.
There were some noteworthy exceptions to the above:
The Japanese were allowed to maintain the new battleship MUTU which had
been designated for scrapping.
The British were allowed to complete the 41,000 ton battleship HOOD.
The United States was allowed to complete the two 33,000 ton aircraft carriers
LEXINGTON and SARATOGA.