PRESIDENT Clinton believes the IRA bombed Manchester to "undermine" the efforts of Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, to gain entry into the all party talks.
This is his assessment of the present situation, The Irish Times has learned from authoritative sources.
The President's national security adviser, Mr Tony Lake, remains in contact with Mr Adams by telephone. But a report that Mr Lake would travel to Ireland or Britain this week for meetings with Sinn Fein and government officials has been denied.
Mr Lake will travel with President Clinton to Lyons in France next week for the G-7 Summit.
It is possible that President Clinton will have discussions there with the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, on the peace process in the aftermath of the Manchester bombing.
There were indications in Washington immediately after the bombing that the US Administration might have to reassess the usefulness of contacts with Sinn Fein and the extent to which Mr Adams could still influence the IRA to restore the ceasefire. But the feeling now is that "Adams is the only game in town" and that it would be foolish to cut contact with Sinn Fein at this stage.
Republican Congressman, Mr Peter King, of New York who has been involved in the peace process, said yesterday that Mr Adams has talked at least twice with Mr Lake since the bombing.
"There is still hope that Gerry can get a ceasefire in the next weeks. No one questions his good intentions. There is a consensus in the Administration that we are going to stick with Gerry Adams. He is more important now than ever
Mr King said that it would "strengthen his hand with the IRA if they knew that Congress and the Administration are still behind him and are ready to play a supportive role in the all party talks".
Asked if there were not signs that the administration was losing patience with Mr Adams's efforts to obtain a ceasefire, Mr King said that "some people were getting tense but "no one is backing away from Adams".