Meanwhile, he firmly rejected the Retired Emperor's jito (land steward) dismissal request (Ota no sho manor in the Bingo Province) on the ground that it would crush the basis of bakufu if he allowed it, saying 'I have no reason to dismiss jito who the late MINAMOTO no Yoritomo assigned as far as they're not problematic,' and when Kintsune SAIONJI was dismissed from Ukone no daisho (Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards), Sanetomo pointed out the Retired Emperor's mistake and remonstrated with him.
その一方で、上皇が要求した地頭解任要求（備後国太田荘）を「故源頼朝が決めた地頭は問題がない限り解任する理由はない」と幕府の根幹を揺るがしかねないとして固辞しており、西園寺公経が右近衛大将を解任された折には上皇の非を指摘してこれを諌めている。