Last night, he and Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan remained at an impasse over Mr. Wade's demand for more Progressive Labour Party representation on committees deciding the future of the US Naval Air Station.

Together with the Senate, Mr. Wade has linked passage of Government's Independence Referendum Act 1994 with debate on his own motion rejecting Government's plans for a Commission of Inquiry on Independence.

The Senate has said it will not debate the Independence law until Mr. Wade's Commission of Inquiry motion is dealt with.

In what he described as "a battle of wills,'' Mr. Wade said he would not bring his motion forward today unless the PLP got more representation on US Base committees.

In a letter to the Premier, he asked for two PLP nominees on each of the five Base committees which report to the main negotiating committee.

But Sir John said yesterday no further announcements on US Base committees were planned this week.

While standing firm, both party leaders left the door open for possible movement.

"I hope Mr. Wade will get on with what he agreed to do,'' the Premier said.

Time was set aside today specifically to debate the PLP Leader's motion on the Commission of Inquiry, and "we hope that's what he uses it for.'' Asked if the PLP would receive the committee representation Mr. Wade requested, Sir John said: "I will have to deal with Mr. Wade.'' Asked if he intended to make any further announcements regarding the Base committees this week, he said: "No, I do not.'' Mr. Wade said he wished to get his motion "out of the way,'' but "we won't do the motion unless we are satisfied that there is some movement,'' on the part of Government.

The Premier had "behaved reprehensibly in the whole thing,'' he said.

"We've given him another chance to rectify the situation.'' The PLP accepted "the insult'' when it was left off the main negotiating committee, but was furious when only one of four party nominees was named to two other Base committees announced last week, Mr. Wade said.

Views differed on what would happen if Mr. Wade did not introduce his motion today.

Two UBP sources said that Sir John would likely press on with plans for a Commission of Inquiry on Independence, which does not require legislation.

Governor Lord Waddington would be left to decide whether to make the commission appointments.

Another said the Commission of Inquiry was "dead in the water,'' as long as the Senate motion remained and Mr. Wade's motion remained before the House.

Legally, the Independence issue would be left "in limbo''.

Lord Waddington could provoke "a Constitutional crisis'' if he made the commission appointments while the Senate logjam remained.

Another UBP source said that if Mr. Wade did not proceed with his motion today, the Senate would have no alternative but to change its position and debate the Independence Referendum Act 1994.

"They very kindly offered to wait, thinking the motion was going to be debated on Friday,'' he said.

Senators would have no excuse for stalling while Mr. Wade tied his motion to an unrelated dispute.

Government Senate Leader the Hon. Gerald Simons said the Upper House could reconsider its earlier motion.

The House of Assembly knew about Mr. Wade's motion when it passed the Independence Referendum Act and sent it to the Senate, Mr. Simons said. There was no reason for the Senate not to debate it.

The Senate is scheduled to begin its Budget debate today, continue on Monday and Wednesday, then adjourn for Easter on Friday, March 18. The Independence bill could be dealt with on one of those days after Budget deliberation was completed, he said.