AS the fallout from Mr John Major's unilateral response to the Hume/Adams proposals continues to impede attempts to restore the IRA ceasefire, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, is to seek an urgent meeting with the British Prime Minister.
Despite comments from Sinn Fein members that the party was not in a position to go to the IRA to seek a renewed ceasefire, Mr Hume said he still believed "a real opportunity exists to end violence for good".
Mr Hume will seek clarification from Mr Major about a possible time scale for Sinn Fein's entry to talks and on whether there is a hidden clause within the British government's statement which would give unionists a veto over Sinn Fein's entry to talks even with an unequivocal IRA ceasefire.
The British government could not determine how early Sinn Fein could enter all party talks in the event of an IRA ceasefire because that was dependent on what "The IRA and Sinn Fein say and do", the North's political development minister, Mr Michael Ancram, told a meeting of the Northern branch of the Irish Association last night. However, he added: "We wish to see such negotiations as soon as possible."
Mr Hume last night refused to respond to demands from the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, and others that he release details of the proposals put to Mr Major.
Mr Martin McGuinness, a Sinn Fein ardchomhairle member, commented: "What was produced yesterday in my opinion gives us no case to go back to the IRA with any hope that we can achieve a second ceasefire.
"The British government have not offered an olive branch. What they have done steadfastly over the course of the last two years is make it absolutely impossible for Sinn Fein to get into a process of meaningful negotiations. We have seen a coming together of John Major and David Trimble, the object of the exercise is no change in Ireland and no change in Westminster."
While Mr McGuinness accused the British government of "moving the goalposts" in terms of achieving a new IRA ceasefire, the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said that Britain was only restating its policy that any ceasefire had to be genuine and not tactical.
Sir Patrick noted the Irish Government's concerns that it had been rebuffed by Mr Major's unilateral response to the Hume/Adams proposals, but defended the British position.
"I notice what the Irish Government has been saying. I'd like to say that I value very much the way we have been working together" he said yesterday. "But we cannot wash away, we cannot shuffle off our own responsibility. We're responsible for what happens in Northern Ireland and I cannot put at further risk, for example, the loyalist ceasefire, upon which so much depends.
He repeated that "words alone" would not be enough to allow Sinn Fein to enter the talks. They would have to show that any ceasefire was genuine and lasting not merely tactical. "We want to see Sinn Fein in these talks, but on the same terms as everybody else - that is to say with a ceasefire declared and with no implicit reliance upon bombs."
The Alliance Party leader, Lord Alderdice, said that the only obstructions to Sinn Fein entering inclusive talks were the conditions which republicans "insist on putting in the way of an end 16 violence". He said it was now time for an unconditional IRA end to violence which would open the road to Sinn Fein's participation in all party talks.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said that the British government seemed to have abandoned decommissioning altogether. "I think the IRA, consistent with what they have always done, will always indicate they are not satisfied until the moment the Prime Minister gives them all they require", he said.
Mr John Taylor, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said he believed there could be no movement towards a political settlement until after the Westminster election.
