THE IRISH American Republicans group was taken unawares by an attack on the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, as a "representative of the IRA", by a former secretary of state, Mr James Baker, in a speech backing Mr Bob Dole.
Mr Baker began his speech by attacking President Clinton's foreign policy as "Gullible's Travels", with a caustic reference to the reception of Mr Adams at the White House.
"We have also seen a representative of the IRA hosted in the White House just prior to its resumption of terrorist bombings in London. The result has been the worst relationship with our closest ally, Britain, since the Boston tea party," Mr Baker said.
The anti Sinn Fein tone of this intervention is at odds with the efforts of a group of Republican congressmen to support Mr Adams in his attempts to persuade the IRA to restore its ceasefire. Mr Ben Gilman, chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, and Mr Peter King, a New York congressman, are two of the most prominent supporters of Mr Adams.
The group works closely with a new organisation called National Association of Irish Americans (NAIA), which the previous day praised the reference to Ireland in the convention platform (or party policy statement).
The platform statement called on "all parties to renounce terrorism in the Northern Ireland conflict" and expressed support for "efforts to establish peace with justice in Northern Ireland" and for the MacBride principles.
Suzanne Breen reports from Belfast:
Sinn Fein has accused Mr Baker of "cheap propaganda". A Belfast councillor, Mr Pat McGeown, said: "In the search for a lasting peace in Ireland, no US president has made a more positive and constructive contribution than President Clinton.
"It is a view widely shared by the Irish/American community, including members, supporters and publicly elected officials of the Republican Party."
Mr McGeown said that while in office Mr Baker had followed a failed policy. "It allowed the British government to dictate US policy on Ireland and ensured that the US played no progressive role in the search for peace in Ireland," he said.
"The current US administration has, on the contrary, adopted a balanced, even handed approach and has sought honest dialogue to resolve a deep rooted conflict. The evidence of its success in recent years is clear."