Moreover, SAIGO sent a letter to Toshimichi OKUBO who was traveling abroad as a member of Iwakura Mission to apologize that he could not protect YAMAGATA after his resignation (according to the letter from SAIGO to OKUBO written on August 12, 1872).
さらに、辞任後岩倉使節団の一員として洋行中の大久保利通に対して山縣を擁護出来なかったことを詫びる手紙を送っている（1872年8月12日付大久保宛西郷書簡）。