MR GERRY ADAMS of Sinn Fein said yesterday he hoped the Mitchell report would prompt a new phase of inclusive dialogue.
His party, however, is expected to withhold its verdict on the body's recommendations on decommissioning until a timetable and a means of verification can be agreed.
On the eve of publication of the report, unionist spokesmen were already expressing scepticism and dissatisfaction on the basis of predictions that Mr George Mitchell and his colleagues will support movement to all party talks without a preliminary practical gesture of decommissioning.
The report is likely to pose a weighty policy dilemma for Sinn Fein by proposing the adoption of a binding commitment to certain basic principles instead of the precondition favoured by Britain and the unionists that there should be actual decommissioning of some weapons.
A Sinn Fein spokesman yesterday insisted the party would not "become involved with speculation", but Mr Adams repeated his party's view that the primary aim of the process should be to clear away preconditions and achieve movement towards inclusive negotiations.
While Sinn Fein will provide a preliminary response to the report today, its considered verdict on the recommendations is likely to be withheld pending detailed internal discussions.
The outcome of these will hinge on the strength of whatever joint expression of purpose is demonstrated by the two governments to move to all party talks in the wake of the Mitchell report.
But it will also turn crucially, on the nature and timing of the moral commitment required of Sign Fein in relation to the consent principle, and whether the party's assessment of the Mitchell document will be formed primarily by Mr Major's response to it and if he signals that he will clear the path to inclusive talks.
Reacting to pre publication speculation yesterday, the Ulster Unionist deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, indicated his party would resist any formula which attempted to alter the requirement for decommissioning in advance of talks.
He said "It seems to me that Mitchell, if we are to believe the Irish leaks, has fudged the issue of decommissioning, has played into the hands of IRA/Sinn Fein, and therefore the only alternative way forward would be an elected body.
"We will not enter into talks with IRA/Sinn Fein unless they start decommissioning their firearms.
"The talks must be on equal terms.
"No party can lay down the condition that it will only take part in talks if it brings in its tonnes of firearms."
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said in a statement that "words of assurance" from IRA and Sinn Fein leaders would not be acceptable.
He said "It now appears that the body will say in its report that there should be no preconditions and that the question of arms could be dealt with in stages as a matter of goodwill as any talks progressed.
"Such a formula is totally unacceptable in that it allows the IRA/Sinn Fein to come to the table without even having handed over one ounce of Semtex or a single Armalite."
However, the leadership of the Methodist Church in Ireland called on politicians and people to use restraint and sensitivity in their responses to the Mitchell report.
The president of the church, the Rev Christopher Walpole, and the Council on Social Responsibility, urged that there should be very careful consideration of the report and that all should take time before making definitive remarks.