Lord Blyth, after conferring with H. H., wrote to the P.M.G. that under those circumstances he withdrew all demands for Franco-British Penny Postage as he considered America should come first; at the same time he wrote to H. H. the words which became historic in all future postal campaigns, "One step enough for me."
Mr Sydney Buxton, who had consistently supported the movement, was at the same time submitting the question to his colleagues of the Cabinet, though naturally he was not at liberty to mention the fact to Lord Blyth or to H. H.
A few days later, at a luncheon given at the Guildhall to meet President Fallières, Mr Buxton came up to Lord Blyth to tell him that his hopes of establishing Penny Postage with America were at an end, as, although he had cabled to America on behalf of the British Government that England was now ready for its adoption, he had received no reply.
Lord Blyth immediately got into telephone communication with H. H., who suggested they should see the American Ambassador, Mr Whitelaw Reid, without delay. At ten o'clock the next morning, H. H. and Lord Blyth called on Mr Whitelaw Reid, and showed him the whole correspondence that had taken place over a course of years. Mr Whitelaw Reid had always been a strong supporter of the movement and offered his services without reserve.
"What do you wish me to do?" he asked of H. H.
"We want you to send a telegram to the President to the effect that if America does not immediately agree to the adoption of Penny Post, France will obtain the boon before our English-speaking people,"
replied H. H.
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