A WHITE HOUSE spokesman, commenting on reports of a possible IRA ceasefire, said last night: "We have called for the IRA to restore the ceasefire and we would hope they would do so as soon as possible."
The US administration had already been heartened by how the IRA's "de facto ceasefire" has been holding in Northern Ireland despite the violence parked off by Drumcree. First reaction to the violence had been fear that the peace process was going to be a victim.
But the White House is known to be keeping in dose touch with Sinn Fein's president, Mr Gerry Adams, through senior National Security Council officials, and it is encouraging all sides to move forward while saying it has no specific knowledge about a forthcoming permanent IRA ceasefire.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and President Clinton discussed the possibility of an IRA ceasefire and the consequent entry of Sinn Fein into the all party talks when they met here last week. But the Taoiseach gave a guarded reply to journalists who later asked if Mr Clinton had given him any reason to believe an IRA ceasefire was being contemplated before Christmas.
Mr Bruton replied: "Not in those terms, he didn't. There is a possibility of an IRA ceasefire."
On the eve of the Taoiseach's visit, a senior administration official said there was a "reasonable chance" of the IRA ceasefire being restored but "it is a mystery to us how they will do it".
The aide said it was clear there has been "a shift in thinking" by Sinn Fein and the IRA on the need "to shift from the bomb and the bullet" into mainstream politics. It was "only a question of time" until "the struggle inside the movement" was resolved in favour of those who favoured the political way, the official said.
It is notable that the White House and the Taoiseach use identical language when refer. ring to "the logic" of the present situation of all party talks. This should dictate that the IRA calls a permanent ceasefire and allow Sinn Fein to take its place at the table.