On the other hand, they caused political problems such as a conflict with Rusu-seifu due to their attempt to negotiate for treaty revision which was beyond their authority, long delay of their return from overseas and a quarrel between Kido and Okubo, which became the subject of the kyoka (comic ［satirical］ tanka) that went like this, 'Failed in signing a treaty, threw out money, how can you explain to the world.'
しかし一方では権限を越えて条約改正交渉を行おうとしたことによる留守政府との摩擦、外遊期間の大幅な延期、木戸と大久保の不仲などの政治的な問題を引き起こし「条約は結び損い金は捨て世間へ大使何と岩倉」と狂歌の題材にされた。