If the Klingons joined the United Federation of Planets would they have to give up their cloaking technology?

Question

The 'Tomed Incident' between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire in 2311 that cost thousands of lives and led to the signing of the 'Treaty of Algeron' which banned Federation research into, or use of, any cloaking device. This treaty led to the withdrawal of the Romulan government from interstellar affairs until 2364. (Even though they're constantly slinking around trying to cause trouble). What if the Klingons or any other race with cloaking technology joined the UFP? Would they be required to relinquish that tech or be denied membership?

We know there have been 'exceptions' to the treaty's cloaking restrictions. Most notably for the Defiant and cloaked space-mines. Are there also 'exceptions' within the treaty for new member states as well?

I added that last paragraph to more fully develop the question.

Answer 1

Without knowing the specific terms of the Treaty of Algeron it's impossible to determine whether a race joining the Federation would be obliged to give up the use of cloaking technology but the answer is yes (probably).

If we go by the few canon quotes that we're given in the episode "The Pegasus";

Picard : That's what this is all about? A cloaking device? In the Treaty of Algeron the Federation specifically agreed not to develop cloaking technology.

and "These are the Voyages";

RIKER: What do you know about the Treaty of Algeron?
TROI: 2311, it redefined the Romulan Neutral Zone.
RIKER: It also outlawed the use of cloaking technology on Starfleet vessels.

then the Federation seems to be barred from developing and using cloaking technology.

Any race that joins the United Federation of Planets would almost certainly have to agree to be bound by any existing treaties. This would presumably include the Treaty of Algeron. To add weight to this, we learn in DS9 : "Profit and Lace" that the Bajoran government have outlawed cloaks. It's not clear whether this decision was taken before or after petitioning for Federation membership but it seems likely that aligning your laws with Federation treaties would be a first step to membership.

Answer 2

In my opinion, the Klingon empire is very "nationalistic". I have a hard time seeing them becoming fully integrated into the Federation. For an example of their cultural insularity, see Sirella's reaction to Dax joining the house of Martok in DS9's You Are Cordially Invited.

Given that, however, I do think that the Klingons could ultimately become a Federation member state, with citizens participating in Starfleet, etc. I would guess that in such a situation, the Klingons would maintain a semi-autonomous domestic government in command of a special Klingon defense force, which would be used only for policing Klingon territory. It would probably be composed of traditional Klingon vessels, complete with cloaking devices.

I'm sure that at that point, Starfleet would have access to the theory of cloaking technology, but I doubt they would equip it to their ships without Romulan permission.

My guess is that the Treaty of Algernon would eventually be revised. It seems that at the end of DS9, the Romulans and the Federation were undergoing a sort of detente. And, with Cardassia occupied and presumably out of the game for the foreseeable future, a Klingon-Federation union would represent a drastic shift in power. The Romulans would have to change their political stance in order to function.

EDIT: As an interesting aside, note that we can see from TOS's Enterprise Incident that the Romulans originally got cloaking technology from the Klingons. It would be strange indeed if the Klingons gave up their signature technology while the Romulans continued to use it.