The President of the United States, Mr Clinton, is described as having "flip flopped" on the MacBride principles, in an open letter from the Irish National Caucus president, Father Sean McManus.
He accuses Mr Clinton of doing a "a great disservice to one of your most enthusiastic constituencies. It has caused confusion and anger. It was a major political blunder."
He appealed to Mr Clinton not to oppose the next Congressional initiative on the principles.