Letter: In Brief

Sir: You can solve Clinton's problems and the Irish decommissioning logjam in one blow: have a White House lawn ceremony where, with General De Chastelain, Adams, Trimble and Tony Blair present, somebody hands Clinton a bag of republican Semtex.

This way, Irish republicans have given nothing to the Ancient Foe, but only to a third party who has helped them get a fair hearing. Clinton probably has the clout to get Irish republicans to deliver something. So doing, he would restore some of the lustre of his presidency that American Republicans have tarnished.

THOMAS HUTCHISON McFADDEN

Pembroke College

Oxford