Right after the demise of Emperor Meiji in December 1912, the second Saionji Cabinet adopted a policy of austerity because of financial difficulties after the Russo-Japanese War, and rejected the demand from the Japanese Army to increase two army divisions.
明治天皇崩御（死去）直後の1912年12月、第2次西園寺内閣は日露戦争後の財政難から緊縮財政の方針をとり、陸軍の二個師団増設要求を拒んだ。