WHITE House sources are not expecting any announcement of an initiative on Northern Ireland by a new Clinton administration, but changes in top officials could see new faces involved in policymaking, writes Joe Carroll in Washington.
Another term for President Clinton does not mean any change in existing policy, one official said. "There will, of course, be a renewed American commitment to the peace process in Northern Ireland and we will continue to work as hard as in the first term for a resolution of the Troubles."
Other close observers of the
White House Northern Ireland policy say that changes in top officials could be a significant pointer as to how the new administration will handle the policy but without there being any dramatic change. The US sees its role as more of a "facilitator" than an initiator of policy.
The present policy whereby the US supports the efforts of both governments to get all party talks under way is seen as the correct one. "It is too soon to say that this policy has failed. There is no real need for new thinking at this stage," one source says.
At the same time if the two main advisers of President Clinton on Northern Ireland, National Security Adviser, Mr Tony Lake, and his assistant, Ms Nancy Soderberg, are transferred to other posts, there could be a different emphasis by successors. Mr Strobe Talbott, the President's main adviser on Russian affairs, is being mentioned as a successor to Mr Lake.
Likewise a move by former Senator George Mitchell, chairman of the all party talks, to the Department of State could mean that it would have more say in the framing of Northern Ireland policy. So far Mr Mitchell's name is just one of a number being mentioned as a future Secretary of State to replace Mr Warren Christopher.
President Clinton has not asked for the resignation of all the present ambassadors, as is sometimes done following an election. This means that Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith can remain at her post in Dublin if that is her wish.
Senator Christopher Dodd, who is stepping down as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is also being tipped for promotion to a Cabinet post. He also has a keen interest in Irish affairs and the peace process.
Most of the Congressional figures who take an active interest in Ireland have been re elected. They include the New York congressman, Mr Ben Gilman, who is a strong advocate of the MacBride principles on fair employment in Northern Ireland.
Other congressmen involved in Irish affairs re elected include Mr Peter King, Mr Tom Manton, Mr James Walsh and Mr Richard Neal. In the Senate, the victories of Mr Robert Torricelli in New Jersey and of Mr John Kerry in Massachusetts have also been welcomed by Irish Americans.