In many ways the settlements were quite convenient for the Japanese government, for example because they kept foreigners settled in certain specific places and thus helped prevent conflict with local Japanese, but as they were the fruit of the unequal treaties and demanded extraterritoriality and consular jurisdiction for their inhabitants, they were unacceptable with respect to national prestige.
居留地は外国人を一ヶ所に集めて置けるので、日本人との紛争防止に役立つなど、日本政府にとって便利な面もあったが、やはり治外法権、領事裁判権を認める不平等条約の落とし子であり、国家的な体面から容認できないものであった。