SENATOR Bob Dole, the front runner for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination, has thrown his weight behind President Clinton's Irish policy. He said the US should assist the current process of inter party consultations on elections.
The Senate Majority Leader's intervention removes any possibility that White House policy on Ireland will become an issue in the presidential election if he emerges as the Republican challenger to Mr Clinton.
Some US conservatives have criticised Mr Clinton for establishing relations with Mr Gerry Adams, especially in the aftermath of the London bombings. However, Mr Dole was one of the Republican leaders who welcomed the Sinn Fein leader to Capitol Hill when he first came to Washington last year.
In a statement on Northern Ireland, Mr Dole said he was encouraged that the recent "deplorable" IRA bombings had not shattered the peace process, which must get back on track. The agreement between the British and Irish prime, ministers last week had been a big step in that direction.
"I strongly support the establishment of a firm date for the resumption of all party talks, as well as the two leaders' call for an IRA ceasefire," he said. I urge Sinn Fein to support an immediate IRA ceasefire.
He added: "The United States has played, and should continue to play, an important role in bridging the gap of trust between the parties in Northern Ireland through such means as the Mitchell commission."
"In my view, the United States should be prepared to assist in the consultations between the parties on the elective process leading up to these all party negotiations. The pursuit of peace in Northern Ireland must remain an important US foreign policy priority."
The White House is already assisting in that process, with the National Security Adviser, Mr Anthony Lake, consulting all sides, mainly by telephone, officials in Washington say.
After an hour long meeting with the Alliance Party leader, Dr John Alderdice, on Wednesday, Mr Lake reiterated the administration's commitment to work with the British and Irish governments to achieve the goal of negotiations for a just and lasting settlement
The White House decision to grant Mr Adams another three month, multiple entry visa, while suspending high level contact with the Sinn Fein leader until the IRA ceasefire is restored, has attracted little or no critical comment in the US.
There was also no open British government criticism of the decision, in contrast to previous occasions when controversial visas were granted.
On Saturday, the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, said the issue of a new visa to Mr Adams was a matter for the US. He noted "there's no possibility of fund raising and neither will he be seeing anyone senior in the American administration". In this regard, the US seemed to have "taken precisely the same line" as the British and Irish governments.
Speaking at the Asia/Europe summit in Bangkok, Mr Major, said the US administration was "very supportive" in the search for a lasting peace, and was putting pressure on Mr Adams to press for a renewal of the IRA ceasefire.
A White House spokesman, Mr Mike McCurry, said Mr Adams was expected to travel to New York, Washington and Scranton, Pennsylvania, this month. He had given an undertaking he would not use his presence to raise funds for Friends of Sinn Fein in the present circumstances. An "off campus" meeting with senior US officials was not ruled out.
The president of Friends of Sinn Fein, Mr Larry Downes, has announced he is suing the Financial Times over an editorial on February 21st linking funds raised by Friends of Sinn Fein with IRA activities. "Efforts to intimidate FOSF and scare some of its contributors will not succeed," Mr Downes said in a statement.
"The US government, which has full access to FOSF's accounts, has informed Downes that it knows the FT's report is false."
In a St Patrick's Day message, released at the weekend, President Clinton said that like millions of Americans, he rejoiced in his Irish heritage and like millions of Americans, "I pray for lasting peace in the land of our ancestors".
Mr Clinton said: "We must not permit the process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland to be destroyed by those who are blinded by the hatreds of the past. As we pay tribute to St, Patrick's enduring message of faith and courage, I salute the people of Ireland for their devotion to defeating the enemies of peace.
In an annual ritual of the presidency, Mr Clinton also declared March to be Irish American heritage month. He said Irish Americans had provided leadership in government, the law, business, finance, literature and the arts. The US should recognise "the gifts brought to America by children of Ireland and honour the strengths they have added to our national character".