However, because Japan were castigated by the world due to the Edict of the Prohibition of Christianity when they visited Europe and the United States in December, 1871, the members of the Iwakura Mission reported that the prohibition of Christianity could be an obstacle to negotiating the revision of the unequal treaty.
しかし、明治4年（1871年）旧11月、岩倉具視特命全権大使一行が欧米各国を歴訪した折、耶蘇教禁止令が各国の非難を浴びて、条約改正の交渉上障碍になるとの報告をした。