Editing Le Cercle (section)

===Key Founders===
	◦	Antoine Pinay: A conservative French politician who served as Prime Minister in 1952, Pinay was a staunch anti-communist and advocate for European unity.
	◦	Jean Violet: A central figure in Le Cercle’s organization, Violet was a lawyer with connections to French intelligence, the Vatican, and anti-communist networks. He reportedly had links to South African, American, British, Swiss, and West German intelligence services.
	◦	Konrad Adenauer and Franz Josef Strauss: German Chancellor Adenauer and Bavarian politician Strauss, both conservative anti-communists, were co-founders, emphasizing the Franco-German axis.

	•	Early Meetings: The earliest known meeting occurred on August 18, 1958, involving Pinay, Violet, and Adenauer. The group operated in near-total secrecy, with no public agenda or participant lists, distinguishing it from more visible forums like the Bilderberg Group.