SIR Patrick Mayhew has again insisted that Sinn Fein "must commit themselves in word and deed to the path of peace and democracy". But in the Commons yesterday the Northern Ireland Secretary resisted unionist demands to reinstate the "Washington 3" condition for decommissioning ahead of Sinn Fein's admission to the talks process.
Sir Patrick told North Down MP Mr Robert McCartney that the British government's position was based "four square on what has come to be called the Mitchell compromise approach" to be found in paragraphs 34 and 35 of the Report of the International Body.
Ahead of an expected statement of the government's approach, the vexed question of Sinn Fein's entry to the political process dominated Northern Ireland Questions - with Sir Patrick under unionist and Conservative pressure.
Mr David Trimble, the UUP leader, repeated his demand for movement in the talks without Sinn Fein. He quoted President Clinton as saying that any new ceasefire should be "genuine and permanent" and arguing there was no chance of Sinn Fein meeting those requirements said: "There is a need now for the talks to move on to substantive issues without them". Mr Trimble told Sir Patrick: "There is growing unease in the unionist community at your inability to express yourself as clearly as President Clinton did.
Mr McCartney asked Sir Patrick: "Does he agree that it would be necessary, not only that any new ceasefire should be complete in its nature but permanent in its duration - and that it should be accompanied by a tangible evidence of good faith by way of the initial handover of a significant amount of guns and Semtex, to evidence that the declaration of a ceasefire is not merely words?"
In reply, Sir Patrick said: "I very much agree that it is essential that such words as are used are also accompanied by external, objective indicators that can lead the rest of us to form a well founded judgment as to whether they are intended in fact to mean a permanent and not a tactical ceasefire."
Mr Andrew Hunter, chairman of the Conservative backbench committee on Northern Ireland, asked Sir Patrick: "Will he confirm that it will require not only the unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire but Sinn Fein then establishing a commitment to exclusively peaceful means?"
Side stepping an invitation to speculate on timescales, Sir Patrick replied: "After what has happened in South Quay...in Manchester... in Lisburn, as the Prime Minister has said, mere words cannot be enough." He said he was happy to use language previously used by Labour's Dr Mo Mowlam "that Sinn Fein must commit themselves in word and deed to the path of peace and democracy".
. Government sources have denied a suggestion in the House of Commons by the DUP MP, the Rev William McCrea, that the Tanaiste had a conversation with Sinn Fein. The sources added that "there won't be any (direct contact with Sinn Fein) until the IRA ceasefire is reinstated".