Ulster Unionists Threaten to Quit N. Ireland Coalition

BELFAST, Northern Ireland —  The Protestant Ulster Unionist Party, UUP, set a February deadline Friday to decide if it will pull out of the province’s fledgling coalition government.

At issue is the pro-British UUP’s demand that Irish Republican Army soldiers make their contribution to the peace process by starting to scrap the weapons they have used in their 30-year fight against British rule.

First Minister David Trimble, who leads the UUP, persuaded its 800-member ruling council--but not without with difficulty--in November to join the IRA’s political ally, Sinn Fein, in governing before a hand-over of weapons. But the UUP also said it would review its position next month.

The unionists upped the ante Friday with a statement that its council president, Josias Cunningham, had talked with Trimble and other leaders and called for a review meeting Feb. 12.

Trimble has threatened to quit the 6-week-old government unless there is progress concerning the arms issue. Britain and Ireland agree that the IRA and pro-British guerrillas must disarm soon to seal the political gains.

The launch of the four-party coalition brought Protestant unionists and Roman Catholic republicans into the same government for the first time, raising hopes for a gradual end to decades of antagonism.

Retired Canadian Gen. John de Chastelain, who heads the province’s disarmament commission, will report this month on his efforts to get the IRA to disarm.

The IRA, which has traditionally regarded disarmament as tantamount to surrender, broke new ground in December by opening talks with De Chastelain.

Reports last weekend--which were played down by republican sources--suggested that the IRA might destroy part of its arsenal and seal the rest to put the arms beyond use.