The old story from Belfast: many questions, no answers and the whole thing deadlocked

YESTERDAY was like Monday, only stormier. One long day of the unionists parties doing their utmost to send the quiet American packing. And all the rest backing him. Would he go or would he stay?

It was a battle of wills all day. The question was would anybody blink? Would the unionists act en bloc and insist on the dislodgement of former US Senator George Mitchell?

Would Mr David Trimble be his own man and accept a substantial role for Mr Mitchell, possibly in some slightly modified form? Would the British government stand firm with the Irish Government behind Mr Mitchell.

Or would Mr Mitchell say "a blight on all your houses", and jet back to the US? Plenty of questions but as yet no answers. As usual, Northern politics was moving at an infuriatingly slow pace.

Mr Ian Paisley junior was certain of the DUP getting its way. "I am predicting that George Mitchell will leave here before we leave," he said.

The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, and the Tanaiste, Mr Spring opened the first general meeting around 9 a.m., determined that he should remain as chairman.

In the morning, the unionist parties had been presented with compromise proposals devised by the two governments but the other parties had not seen them.

So there was some predictable bickering and the meeting was adjourned after only 15 minutes. The other parties were then given the details, and the various delegations then embarked on yet another round of bilaterals.

The compromise would allow Mr Mitchell chair the plenary session proper, while a sub-committee was given until Monday to define his role.

This was unacceptable to the DUP and Mr Robert McCartney's UK Unionist Party. The Ulster Unionists, however, had their own proposals which, the Government and the SDLP believed would unacceptably limit Mr Mitchell's role.

The UUP, it is understood, proposed that the plenary session under Mr Mitchell should be put in abeyance for an unspecified period and that a sub-committee of the talks would meet to decide on a chairman, and also to define his role and set the agenda.

According to Government sources, the UUP also proposed the chairman's role should be defined in terms of procedures applying to the Australian diplomat, Sir Ninian Stephen, who was chairman of the unsuccessful 1992 Stand Two North/South talks.

"This would make the chairman powerless. All he could do under such procedures would be to call meetings," said a senior Dublin official.

Mr Trimble, while refusing to confirm the nature of his proposals, was adamant that they could break the deadlock. "I can't imagine any justification for others walking out on the basis of our proposals," he stated.

Just as on Monday, the day continued with bilateral meetings taking place in the numerous rooms of Castle Buildings. Mr Mitchell, according to one talks delegate, held a number of "confessions", which included lengthy meetings with Mr Trimble Dr Paisley and Mr McCartney.

Mr McCartney emerged with Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien at lunchtime to reiterate his opposition to Mr Mitchell, although he stressed it was nothing personal.

He indicated, however, that if the role of the senator was modified his party might accept him in the chair.

He later seemed to harden his position. In the evening he said Mr Mitchell was appointed "in order to encourage Sinn Fein/IRA to declare a ceasefire and come to talks. The baleful influence of Sinn Fein/IRA, although they are not here, is casting its baleful shadow over all the discussions".

Others also staked out their positions. "He is a biased chairman. That is the reality for us," said Mr Ian Paisley junior.

"He will be the overall chairman," said Dr Joe Hendron of the SDLP. That was also the view of Mr Billy Hutchinson of the Progressive Unionist Party and Mr David Adams of the Ulster Democratic Party.

Mr Adams accused the main unionist parties of attempting to sabotage the talks.

Equally, the Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition, and the Labour grouping had no difficulty with Mr Mitchell.

Dr Paisley brought some diversion late in the evening. An Irish Government Minister had, he claimed, told a unionist delegate that there would be "bodies on the streets" if Mr Mitchell was not appointed.

"Nonsense," said a senior Irish official. He said it was a gross distortion. "It is nonsensical that any Irish Government Minister would make such a remark," the official said.

Mr Seamus Mallon, the SDLP deputy leader, thought it was "fabricated tittle tattle". Mr Mallon complained the unionist parties were trying to impose their will on all the other parties and the two governments. But, he was certain, Mr Mitchell will be staying.

Mr Ian Paisley junior was equally confident his prediction will hold true.

And that was the state of the "historic" peace talks last night.

Deadlocked.