The latest setback came on Thursday, when the leading Protestant party postponed a decision to resume its part in the territory's new self-governing bodies. When it quit, the Ulster Unionist Party had the moral high ground, because the Irish Republican Army was refusing to disarm. Now that the IRA has softened its stance, a Unionist refusal to resume power-sharing would not be justified.
Some hesitation is understandable.
The methods have yet to be spelled out, but the declared purpose is a permanent extension of the existing cease-fire. British military deployment, British direct rule and anti-Catholic discrimination. The Unionist party now can denounce the IRA statement as inadequate and refuse to participate in the power-sharing assembly and executive council that were set up as part of the Good Friday peace deal to replace direct rule from London. Or it can resume power-sharing, play its part in the peace process and then fairly demand that the IRA deliver its side of the bargain. Party leader David Trimble rightly argues for the second course.