Yamada was in a tenuous position in the government, having no actual status, except the title of Army Major General due to his confrontation between Aritomo YAMAGATA over implementation of the Conscription Ordinance since he returned home, which forced him to change direction.
帰国以来、山縣有朋と徴兵令施行等の意見衝突によって対立していた山田は陸軍少将の肩書きのみで陸軍に実質的な地位はなく、政府内で微妙な立場にあった為、方向転換せざるをえなかった。