At the time, Saigo's resignation of the position of councilor and Konoe-totoku was approved, but his resignation of the title of full general was not approved, nor was he allowed to return that rank (based on this failure to receive approval, Iwakura, Kido and Okubo had plans to restore Saigo and the supporters of those in favor of sending an ambassador to Korea return to government).
このとき、西郷の参議・近衛都督辞職は許可されたが、陸軍大将辞職と位階の返上は許されなかった（岩倉・木戸・大久保らは、これらを許可しないことによって、西郷ら遣韓派をいずれ政府に復帰させる意図があることを示したのであろう）。