The official reason of the resignation was Saionji's failing health, but it is said that the direct cause of the resignation was Arimoto YAMAGATA's report to the Emperor that said 'The incident occurred as a result of a move to reconcile with socialists by the Saionji's cabinet, so it was a blunder by the cabinet.'
表向きは健康上の問題によるとされたが、山縣有朋が「事件は社会主義者に対する融和の結果発生した。これは西園寺内閣の失策である」と奏上したのが直接の原因といわれている。