THE Tanaiste is to express the Government's deep annoyance to the Northern Secretary today over the way in which the British government unilaterally announced that only decommissioning or elections to an assembly could lead to all party talks. Mr Spring is also expected to protest at what the Government sees as London's attempts to sow dissent among the Coalition partners.
Senior sources last night said the Tinaiste would ask Sir Patrick Mayhew precisely how the British government envisages the proposed elections taking place prior to all party talks.
Today's Inter Governmental Conference meeting in London represents the first face to face meeting between the two governments since Mr Major's reaction to the Mitchell report on decommissioning in the House of Commons, which effectively derailed the twin track approach. It takes place against a strong belief in Government circles that the British government has little intention of drawing back from the idea of holding an election before all party talks.
Mr Spring will attempt to refocus British government attention on the Mitchell report as a basis for moving to all party talks by the end of this month. "The Mitchell report offers the high road to a successful outcome of the process," one source said.
The Government has no objection to an election provided it has widespread support among all communities, follows a specific agenda and is within the three strand process.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said yesterday that he had written to President Clinton outlining the Government's position on the twin track approach in the wake of the Mitchell report. Mr Bruton told the Dail yesterday that an "entirely unnecessary controversy" had been created by what had been said in the House of Commons about an elected body.
The "problem" arose at the end of the Prime Minister's speech when he said there were only two ways in which all party negotiations could be taken forward. This was both "unexpected and unhelpful", Mr Bruton said.