OKUBO and others, in alliance with other Sangi and local officers, opposed the movement by insisting that the newly merged ministry possessed authority more so than the Dajokan, and demanded the expulsion of OOKUMA and ITO and the separation of the ministry.
一方、大久保らはこうした動きに対して、新省が太政官を上回る権限を持つとして反発し、他の参議や地方官と結んで大隈・伊藤の排撃と再分離を求めた。