An item dated Washington, USA 29th reported that the USA informed England that she was willing to arm the new battleships not with 18” guns but instead with 16” guns. However the limited tonnage should be 45.000 tons.(1)
Note
1. An increase of the displacement now limited to 35.0000 tons became possible. The London Naval Treaty was a result of the Second London Naval Disarmament Conference and which begun on 9 December 1935. Finally was the treaty signed by United Kingdom, USA and France on 25 March 1936. Italy and Japan which in the past signed the other naval treaties both declined to sign. Capital ships were under this new treaty limited to a maximum of 35.562 tons and 35,6cm/14” guns. The escalator clause supplied the possibility to use 16” guns and larger battleships if Japan or Italy still had not signed after 1 April 1937.
