MR JOHN MAJOR'S Irish Times article was denounced as "another concession too far" by Conservative MP Mr David Wilshire. And Mr Andrew Hunter, chairman of the Conservative backbench Northern Ireland Committee accused Mr Major of "confusing and ambiguous" remarks.
But 10 Downing Street insisted the prime minister's "important" article was entirely consistent with previous statements of British government policy, and that four key words in the article had been "over interpreted".
A spokesman said "He (Mr Major) talks about decommissioning going on as the process of talks goes on. We will have to sort out decommissioning from the outset. We are going to discuss it at the outset and reach agreement don what it means in the confines of the Mitchell report."
The key sentence in yesterday's article stated that agreement had to be reached on how "decommissioning could be taken forward without blocking the negotiations".
The spokesman said far took much was being made of the words "without blocking the negotiations". He added. "Decommissioning will always need to be addressed at the beginning of talks and agreement reached."
While the British cabinet's Northern Ireland committee met in London yesterday, it is under stood senior Irish Government officials met Sinn Fein representatives in Dublin.
Mr Wilshire the MP for Spelthorne, said. "At the very beginning there had to be decommissioning. That got chucked out because terrorists said `no'. Then we had to address the issue of decommissioning. Now it will not hold up the talks. It is unreasonable to expect unionists to negotiate with evil terrorists pointing a gun to their heads."
Mr Hunter said. "I find the prime minister's key sentence a little confusing and ambiguous. I am not really sure what he has in mind. There has been speculation" that the government was moving a towards separating decommissioning from the talks on the political agenda. At first sight that appears to be so, but the government has consistently said that is not what it intends to do."
Meanwhile, a report in today's Financial Times says that there could be a revolt in the Conservative Party following an apparent softening of Mr Majors' approach on decommissioning.
The report claims that some of Mr Major's cabinet colleague have warned him not to make further concessions to Sinn Fein ahead of the all party talks, amid deep unease within the cabinet "and threats of revolt among backbenchers.
The report claims that at least six Tory MPs have warned privately they would consider resigning the party whip as a final resort, and that since the Tories only have a majority of one, any threat of rebellion, however couched, will not be taken lightly by ministers.
The Financial Times report says Lord Cranborne, leader of the House of Lords and the most pro unionist minister, has expressed alarm over recent developments. He is reported to have told friends. "I consider myself still a member of the government and I hope to remain so."
Another cabinet member is quoted as saying. "There is a view at the top of the party that we have gone as far as we can and no more.