THE rift between Dublin and the Ulster Unionists deepened last night, as Mr David Trimble ruled out early talks with the Tanaiste.
The UUP leader was accused of "playing hard to get" and said to be mistaken if he thought he could persuade Mr Spring to drop his objections to elections in the North by refusing to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, members of the Progressive Unionist Party will travel to Dublin for discussions tonight, and the Taoiseach and Mr Proinsias De Rossa will meet the leader of the Alliance Party, Dr John Alderdice, on Thursday.
Mr Trimble's office was said yesterday to have advised the Department of Foreign Affairs that his schedule would not permit an early meeting with the Tanaiste. Mr Trimble and Mr Spring are understood to have agreed to a meeting in principle during a telephone conversation initiated by the Tanaiste last Thursday.
Despite his demanding schedule, sources say Mr Spring has taken elaborate steps to try to overcome Mr Trimble's "logistical" difficulties even indicating a willingness to travel to London ahead of tomorrow's resumed Inter governmental Conference and his subsequent departure for the United States.
Senior unionist sources earlier confirmed their expectation of a meeting, first reported in The Irish Times last Saturday.
As agreed, Mr Spring rang Mr Trimble's home on Saturday but he was greeted by an answering service. The Tanaiste tried again on Sunday, and yesterday he got his staff to contact the UUP leader's Craigavon office, only to learn that the meeting was off.
Senior Government sources last night made no attempt to conceal their irritation with Mr Trimble's latest manoeuvres. One said "It's up to him now. If he thinks he can get by refusing to talk to those who need to be persuaded (about elections in the North), he's making life more difficult in terms of the achievement of his own objectives."
The source added that "telling the Irish Government to get lost" was hardly Mr Trimble's "gown best way forward.".
Meanwhile, the question of an elective process as a route to all party talks dominated yesterday's Downing Street meeting between the British Prime Minister Mr John Major, and Dr Alderdice.
Dr Alderdice told reporters he found the meeting encouraging and worthwhile, and said he hoped to see elections take place by April or May.
Maol Muire Tynan adds
The Tanaiste yesterday dismissed accusations by the deputy leader of the Ulster Unionists, Mr John Taylor, that he was a detested figure in Northern Ireland, or politically indistinguishable from Mr Gerry Adams.
Though a Government spokesman declined to respond to the allegations, Opposition leaders rallied to Mr Spring's defence and they accused unionists of throwing "mischievous spanners into the works" and of stalling the peace process.
Mr Spring, who leaves for the United States tomorrow, said that any examination of his own record showed that he worked as hard as possible in the pursuit of reconciliation on this island. Mr Taylor's comments were not in line with the views of many unionists, he added.
In spite of difficulties, Government sources are still continuing to identify the end of this month as the target date for all party talks. The Tanaiste's meeting tomorrow with the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, is seen as part of this process.
The coalition also cranked up its efforts to have widespread political dialogue with as many parties as are willing, and the SDLP leadership last night joined the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, the Tanaiste, and the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, for a working dinner in Dublin.
The Sinn Fe in president and the ardchomhairle member, Mr Martin McGuinness, will hold another round of talks with the Government this afternoon.