ON THE eve of a new round of meetings between White House officials and British and Irish political leaders in the next two weeks, President Clinton said the United States wanted to see all party talks take place "as scheduled".
Senator George Mitchell yesterday met Mr Clinton and said afterwards: "The President said she hoped the parties would reach agreement and allow the talks to take place as scheduled."
Mr Mitchell was speaking outside the White House after briefing the President on the report of the international body on arms decommissioning which he chaired.
He said he told Mr Clinton he would be willing to act as his adviser on the peace process, as well as special economic adviser, though he stopped short of saying he had offered his services as special peace envoy.
Mr Mitchell's comments are the first indication that the White House will continue to press for the all party talks to take place as, originally proposed, despite the new impasse in the peace process.
The British and Irish governments agreed on November 28th to aim for all party talks by the end of February.
Asked if Mr Clinton was concerned about recent events in the peace process, Mr Mitchell replied: "I think he continues to be concerned about the situation there and very anxious that the parties make Progress to agree to all party negotiations.
Mr Clinton will meet the Northern Ireland Minister for Political Development, Mr Michael Ancram, at the White House this morning.
The British government has already taken steps to explain its actions in setting an alternative precondition for talks. Mr John Major's foreign policy adviser, Mr Rod Lyne, had dinner at the weekend with Mr Clinton's National Security Adviser, Mr Anthony Lake.
Mr Ancram faces the uncomfortable task of explaining British policy to Mr Clinton and other" officials and Congress members: he will meet in Washington today.
The actions of the British Prime Minister have been widely criticised in the US media, and officials in Washington are believed to be responsive to the Irish version of events.
The theory is gaining ground that London has effectively reduced US leverage on the process by side lining the Mitchell report and demanding elections before all party talks.
The creation of the Mitchell body and the jointly stated aim of getting inter party talks by the end of February were only achieved after intensive American diplomacy on the eve of Mr Clinton's visit to Britain and Ireland last autumn; and the British government has now asserted its supremacy in the matter just two months later.
Mr Mitchell refused to be drawn on the rejection by Mr Major of his recommendation that the condition of prior decommissioning before talks be dropped.
"The proper role for the United States would be to support and encourage the process and not to displace the role of the parties themselves," he said.
"The President is following the matter quite closely and encouraging all of the parties to resolve the differences on the political track so that they can begin all party negotiations."