Although Japanese public opinon was strongly in favor of declarling war on Russia, Japan still did not have the strength to fight a great power such as Russia, and a faction opposing war prevailed in the government.
世論においてはロシアとの戦争も辞さずという強硬な意見も出たが、当時の日本には列強諸国と戦えるだけの力は無く、政府内では伊藤博文ら戦争回避派が主流を占めた。