Saionji consulted with Aritomo YAMAGATA, who was an influential figure in the Army, about the succeeding Army officer, but once he figured out that Yamagata had no intention of recommending a succeeding Army officer Saionji took the preemptive measure of having all the cabinet members resign.
西園寺は、後任の陸相について陸軍の実力者山縣有朋にも相談したが、山県が後任の陸相を出す気がないことを察すると、機先を制して内閣総辞職した。