THE British government is considering a compromise proposal which would enable all parties to "address" the decommissioning issue, while allowing political negotiations in Northern Ireland to proceed after June 10th.
And it is understood the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, has secured Mr David Trimble's agreement that the former US senator, Mr George Mitchell, who headed the International Body on Decommissioning, should play a key role in the talks process to begin after the North's elections on May 30th.
The Irish Times has been told the compromise proposal would see the issue of decommissioning paramilitary weapons referred to an all party committee when the negotiations are convened in Belfast on June 10th.
The suggestion believed to have been discussed by the Prime Minister and the Ulster Unionist leader on Monday, is that Mr Mitchell could be invited to chair that committee. Pending its report, the indications are that the Ulster Unionists would agree to continue discussions with the other parties about the agenda and timetable for the negotiation process.
At a glance, this looks like a variation of the recent proposal by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, that the decommissioning issue should become the "fourth strand' of the process. However, the crucial difference is that nominees of all the parties would be involved in addressing decommissioning.
Gen John de Chastelain of Canada, who served alongside Mr Mitchell on the International Body, is widely expected to be invited to head the verification commission. However, senior unionist sources last night discounted suggestions that Mr Mitchell would also be invited to chair the crucial Strand 2 North South talks, saying that a "wholly independent" candidate would be required for that role. It is understood that an Australian diplomat is among a number of candidates under consideration in London.
However, the Irish Government anxious to have Mr Mitchell engaged on the widest possible front in the talks process, and considers his role crucial to satisfying republicans that the negotiations will be "for real", and thus also to attempts to have the IRA ceasefire reinstated.
Meanwhile, senior unionists say Dublin attempts to revive the Joint Framework proposals, out lining the agreed London Dublin view of the parameters of any likely settlement, could place their relationship with Mr Major's government under fresh strain.
Convinced that Mr Major's room for manoeuvre is seriously limited, some unionists at Westminster are privately predicting that the peace process could, in any event, be interrupted by a snap decision by the Prime Minister to call an October general election.