Niccolo Machiavelli, that devious Florentine, would have glowed with the pleasure of recognition this morning at the intricate political manoeuvres which are taking place against a backdrop of the smoking embers of Londonderry's weekend rioting. The two events, Londonderry and manoeuvring, are not necessarily linked but give each other an accidental and significant highlight. The most important of the two is the revelation that the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, believes that face-to-face meetings with the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, are not impossible. What he actually means is that they might talk face to face, for they already share a room at the negotiations where Mr Trimble and his associates refuse to speak directly to the Sinn Fein delegation. Mr Trimble has been under heavy pressure to say something of this sort. He has been praised in terms sufficient to make even
a stern Ulster Unionist leader blush, notably for his bravery and sensitivity. He has also been warned that if the peace talks collapse there is a possibility that the Ulster Unionists will carry some of the blame because they will not talk to Sinn Fein at the negotiations.
Mr Trimble has absorbed these messages but is nobody's fool. He will have watched with the closest attention the meeting in Downing Street last week between Mr Blair and Mr Adams. He will suspect that, even if Mr Adams is clearly taking something of a risk in the light of the open disaffection of some of his supporters with Sinn Fein's apparent interest in the peace process, it is likely that concessions have been earned, not least among them that welcome at No 10. There is a feeling within Unionism that Mr Blair, with his strong desire to move the peace process along as fast as is possible, has been too generous to Sinn Fein and that if he wants Mr Trimble to talk to Mr Adams he had better come up with a concession which will be of use to the Unionists. Mr Trimble's apparent softening could be a signal that he is open to the idea, or may even be a sign that he has already received enough
encouragement to take a bold step. Time and subsequent manoeuvres alone will tell. Yet there is sense in Mr Trimble taking a step towards allowing the peace negotiations to proceed with proper exchange of views among all participants. There is a momentum developing, epitomised last night by the decision of Mr Blair and the Taoiseach, Mr Berty Ahern, to imitate the Bosnian talks at Dayton by moving an important element of the negotiations to London and Dublin after Christmas. Mr Trimble should seize the moment, thereby actually earning that lavish praise.
Of the events in Londonderry there is less to be said. The violence was outrageous and premeditated and as usual there were faults on both sides. An Apprentice Boys march on a Saturday afternoon through Christmas shoppers in Londonderry was not a good idea. It could, and should, have been held at a different time. The violent reaction is indefensible, especially as the route of the march did not go through a sensitive area. It may reflect some of the frustration felt by Republicans who are uneasy with the peace process, but the danger is that it may rekindle rioting instincts which have been dampened of late. Whatever the reason it must not be allowed to interrupt the momentum for peace or the work of the admirable Senator George Mitchell which begins again in Belfast today.
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