How did the Washington Naval Conference aim to prevent conflict?

The Washington Naval Conference aimed to prevent conflict by limiting naval armaments and promoting peaceful negotiations among major powers.

The Washington Naval Conference, held from 1921 to 1922, was a significant diplomatic effort to prevent future conflicts, particularly in the Pacific and East Asia. The conference brought together major world powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy, to discuss and agree on measures to reduce the likelihood of naval arms races and territorial disputes. By limiting the size and number of warships each nation could possess, the conference sought to curb the potential for military escalation and foster a more stable international environment.

One of the key outcomes of the conference was the Five-Power Treaty, also known as the Washington Naval Treaty. This agreement established specific ratios for the naval fleets of the participating countries, effectively capping the number of battleships and aircraft carriers each nation could maintain. For example, the treaty set a ratio of 5:5:3 for the naval tonnage of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, respectively. This was intended to prevent any single nation from gaining a dominant naval position that could threaten the others.

Additionally, the conference produced the Four-Power Treaty and the Nine-Power Treaty. The Four-Power Treaty involved the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and France, and it aimed to respect each other's territorial possessions in the Pacific and to consult each other in the event of a dispute. The Nine-Power Treaty included these nations plus others like China and the Netherlands, and it focused on respecting China's sovereignty and promoting the Open Door Policy, which encouraged equal trading rights in China.

By addressing both naval limitations and territorial agreements, the Washington Naval Conference sought to create a framework for international cooperation and reduce the chances of conflict arising from competition and mistrust among the world's leading powers.