After making an inspection of Sakhalin, KURODA prepared a serious report that Sakhalin would be overtaken by Russia within three years unless the current situation changed, and claimed the importance of development of Hokkaido to gain more competing powers against Russia.
樺太を視察した黒田は「現状では樺太は3年もたない」という深刻な報告を行ない、対抗する国力を充実させるために北海道の開拓に力を入れるべきだと論じた。