The Meiji Government was surprised with the sudden demand, but tried to make the vice foreign prefectural governor, Kiyokado KOMATSU (Tatewaki, a chief retainer of Satsuma Domain), deal with the problem for the time being.
明治政府は突然の要求に驚いたが取りあえず外国官副知事の小松清廉（帯刀・薩摩藩家老）に対応をさせようとした。