As preparations for President Clinton's visit to Ireland move forward, there is growing anxiety among the Irish-American community that their representatives will be left off the trip. Instead, the President would give a special reception on the South Lawn of the White House for about 300 Irish-Americans after his return.
For the President's first trip to Ireland in 1995, about 30 high-profile members of the Irish-American community accompanied him as part of the official party and got VIP treatment. They came from leading Irish-American organisations, politics, the business community, the arts and clergy.
But this time the White House Public Liaison Office, which handles relations with ethnic groups, is said to be opposed to having a specific Irish-American delegation travelling with the Presidential party. According to one prominent Irish-American, the office is getting complaints from other ethnic groups that the Irish are getting "too much special treatment".
(The US Postal Service has just announced a stamp honouring the contribution of Irish immigrants who came over after the Famine.)
A White House spokesman told The Irish Times yesterday, "I don't believe there will be a private delegation on this trip." There would be the official delegation and a congressional delegation. He confirmed that there would be a special reception for the Irish-American community at the White House after the President returns, probably on September 11th.
Other informed sources said some members of the Irish-American community would be "integrated" into the official delegation but would travel separately to Ireland, missing the Russian leg of the trip.
The spokesman said that a final decision has not yet been made about the composition of the presidential party, but another Irish-American activist told The Irish Times: "Last Friday the White House was still staying No to a separate Irish delegation." Prominent Irish-American politicians such as Senator Chris Dodd are expected, however, to be invited along as part of the congressional delegation. Former Senator George Mitchell will also travel.
Some details of the President's trip to Ireland are emerging as the advance party comes back from visits to Belfast and Dublin. The President and Mrs Clinton will fly from Moscow to Belfast on Thursday, September 3rd.
The visit to Northern Ireland will include meetings, possibly at Stormont, with political leaders at which Mr Clinton will encourage them to make a success of the new Assembly, which will meet on September 15th. Mr Clinton is expected to meet Ms Christine Quinn, mother of the three boys burned to death in a firebomb attack on their house in Ballymoney.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, is expected to travel to Belfast for the occasion.
A visit to Armagh and a meeting with religious leaders are also believed to be planned before the presidential party travels to Dublin on the Thursday evening.
In Dublin on Friday, President Clinton will meet the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and other political leaders. An event involving the "social partners" of business and trade union leaders is also on the agenda.
Saturday, and possibly Sunday, will give President Clinton a chance to relax while playing golf, probably in Ballybunion, and visiting other venues outside Dublin. Senator Chris Dodd is trying to persuade him to visit Roundstone in Connemara, where the senator has a holiday home.