The Emperor's reply to this motion, however, blamed the House of Representatives as negligent, saying 'the House itself is unclear and has erred' (it is believed that Hirobumi ITO, who regarded the non-confidence motion as an indirect attack towards Munemitsu MUTSU, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, asked Imperial Household Minister Hisamoto HIJIKATA to issue such a reply).
だが、天皇からは「議院自ら不明なりしとの過失」として衆議院の怠慢を責める勅答が下された（これは、星への不信任を当時外務大臣(日本)であった陸奥宗光への間接的攻撃とみた伊藤博文が土方久元宮内大臣に要請して出させたものとされている）。