Dublin Delays Talks on Ulster

DUBLIN, Ireland — Saying it needed a few days to settle differences with Britain, the Irish government withdrew Tuesday from a meeting intended to pave the way for Northern Ireland peace talks.

The key issue was Britain’s insistence that the Irish Republican Army promise to disarm before its allies in the Sinn Fein party may join negotiations. Sinn Fein has rejected the demand.

British Prime Minister John Major had planned to meet today with his Irish counterpart, John Bruton. Those plans collapsed when civil servants from both governments deadlocked on the precise terms for talks.

Irish officials said they hoped the impasse could be solved within days. Major’s office in London confirmed the postponement.

Dublin’s announcement ended the widespread assumption that the two governments had already agreed on an internationally supervised commission to oversee the disarmament of Northern Ireland’s rival guerrilla groups.