After the excitement of Berlin, it must have been with some foreboding that Askwith viewed the return to his rather limited responsibilities and duties as Assistant Secretary of the Railway Department. Encouraged by his success, he felt that seeking promotion within the civil service must have seemed an attractive proposition, especially as he had the responsibility of supporting his growing family. The office of Comptroller General of the Patent Office became vacant, and Askwith, with his interest in new inventions and his recent experience with the complexities of intellectual property rights, must have seen it as an excellent opportunity. He was offered the post and accepted it. Ellen said: ‘I am very glad. [He was referred to] in the most flattering terms by W.C. [for his work] on the Railway Advisory Committee, Copyright & arbitration & also the Anti-Sweating Act, which W.C. has taken up’.

While all this is going on, we get some glimpses from his letters to Ellen, who is staying with Archie and Miles at the How during the school holidays, of his work in bringing the railway conciliation scheme to fruition. There were long meetings with Lord Allerton, Lord Claud Hamilton and Sir Alex Hardesson, chairmen of the big companies, and Winston and Llewellyn Smith. Winston needed to be convinced of the value of the scheme.