The President himself fuelled the speculation with a comment he made to journalists yesterday. Asked if he was planning to visit Panama in mid-December for the return of the Panama canal by the US to the Panama government, Mr Clinton said: "I may have to take another trip before the end of the year."
US administration sources said that there were no plans for a visit in the immediate future. Observers felt, however, that the prospect of a presidential visit could not be ruled out.
It was considered unlikely that the President would wish to come until the new devolved institutions had held their inaugural meetings. The new Northern Executive holds its first full meeting tomorrow and the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council are expected to hold their first meetings the week after next.
Administration sources emphasised that the President had always made it clear that he would do everything he could to assist the peace process.
Official sources in Dublin said that the Government was unaware of any forthcoming presidential visit.