Le Cercle

History of Le Cercle Le Cercle, also known as the Cercle Pinay, is a secretive, invitation-only foreign policy forum established in the early 1950s to promote anti-communist and conservative agendas, initially focused on fostering Franco-German reconciliation and European integration. Over the decades, it evolved into a transatlantic network of influential figures, including politicians, intelligence operatives, military officers, business leaders, and aristocrats, with alleged ties to covert operations and controversial political activities. Below is a detailed history of Le Cercle, its origins, evolution, activities, and connections to figures like Ray S. Cline, as well as its potential links to operations like Air America and Operation Gladio, as requested in your previous queries.

Origins (1952–1953) Le Cercle was founded in 1952–1953 by Antoine Pinay, then French Prime Minister, and Jean Violet, a French intelligence operative and lawyer with ties to the French secret service (SDECE). Initially called the Cercle Pinay, the group aimed to promote reconciliation between France and Germany in the post-World War II era, aligning with the broader goal of building a unified, Christian-Catholic Europe to counter the Soviet threat. Historian Adrian Hänni notes that the group’s founding vision was rooted in “the integration of a Christian-Catholic Europe,” reflected in its early membership, which included representatives from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, many of whom were affiliated with Catholic organizations like Opus Dei and the Knights of Malta. • 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.

Evolution and Expansion (1960s–1970s) Le Cercle initially focused on anti-communism and European integration but expanded its scope in the 1960s and 1970s to include transatlantic cooperation, particularly after political changes in 1969 brought in members from Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Meetings shifted from three times a year to biannual gatherings, typically in Washington, D.C., and various European cities. • Membership: The group attracted a diverse, elite membership, including: ◦ Diplomats, high-ranking politicians, and intelligence agents (e.g., ex-MI6 officer Anthony Cavendish, British MPs Julian Amery and Alan Clark). ◦ Business leaders from banking, oil, shipping, and publishing. ◦ Military officers, retired generals, and members of aristocratic circles, including Vatican-affiliated figures. ◦ Notable attendees included Brian Crozier (British intelligence-linked journalist), Ted Shackley (CIA officer, who chaired U.S. meetings), and later figures like David Rockefeller, Henry Kissinger, and Donald Rumsfeld. • Funding: Le Cercle was privately funded, with contributions from organizations like Shell (£30,000 in 1971) and the Ford Foundation (£20,000 over three years). British MP Alan Clark claimed in his diaries that the group was funded by the CIA, though this has not been fully substantiated by primary sources. • Shift to Transatlantic Focus: Under the influence of figures like Ted Shackley, Le Cercle adopted a more secular, transatlantic ethos in the 1970s, with meetings alternating between Europe and the U.S. This shift aligned with NATO’s strategic priorities, including support for anti-communist movements and controversial policies like apartheid in South Africa.

Activities and Controversies (1970s–1980s) Le Cercle’s activities were shrouded in secrecy, but available evidence suggests it played a significant role in shaping conservative political outcomes and supporting covert operations: • Political Influence: ◦ The 1982 Langemann Papers, leaked by a BND officer, revealed Le Cercle’s efforts to influence Western European elections in countries like the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Belgium. The group reportedly supported conservative politicians, including Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 election in the UK. ◦ An agenda presented by Brian Crozier outlined goals such as “undercover financial transactions for political aims,” “international campaigns to discredit hostile personalities or events,” and the creation of a private intelligence service with a selective point of view. • Support for Apartheid: ◦ In the 1970s and 1980s, Le Cercle had close ties with South Africa, which provided the only official delegation and hosted meetings, including one in Stellenbosch in January 1984. The group supported anti-communist organizations like RENAMO (Mozambique) and UNITA (Angola), whose representatives attended meetings. ◦ These ties drew criticism, with X posts (e.g., @kennardmatt) highlighting Le Cercle’s support for apartheid as evidence of its right-wing agenda. • Arms Dealing and Covert Operations: ◦ Le Cercle members were linked to major arms scandals, including the Iran-Contra affair and the Al-Yamamah arms deal. Members like Jonathan Aitken (chairman in the 1990s), Paul Channon, and Alan Clark were connected to the Arms-to-Iraq affair, while Aitken and Norman Lamont were involved in Al-Yamamah. ◦ The group’s interest in “counter-terrorism” and arms dealing suggests a role in shaping the “War on Terror” narrative, with members like Brian Crozier, Robert Moss, Gerhard Lowenthal, and Alun Gwynne Jones speaking at the 1979 Jerusalem Conference on International Terrorism. • Operation Gladio Connection: ◦ Le Cercle’s origins as a Franco-German alliance and its anti-communist focus have led to speculation about ties to Operation Gladio, NATO’s clandestine “stay-behind” networks designed to resist Soviet invasion. The group’s Catholic roots and early membership (e.g., Opus Dei, Knights of Malta) align with Gladio’s conservative, anti-communist ethos. ◦ The presence of figures like Baron Benoit de Bonvoisin, a Belgian implicated in the Strategy of Tension (a Gladio-linked campaign of false-flag attacks), suggests possible overlap. Researcher Joël van der Reijden notes de Bonvoisin’s attendance as significant due to his ties to the Belgian X-Dossiers and Gladio-related activities. ◦ While no definitive evidence confirms Le Cercle’s operational role in Gladio, its network of intelligence veterans and support for NATO’s nuclear policies (e.g., Cruise and Pershing II missiles in the late 1970s) suggest alignment with Gladio’s goals.

Later Years and Scandals (1980s–2010s) Le Cercle’s influence peaked in the 1970s and 1980s but faced increased scrutiny in later decades: • 1980s Exposure: ◦ The group was first mentioned in the 1975 Time Out magazine, referencing the “Pinay Committee” based on leaked documents from the Institute for the Study of Conflict. In the 1980s, Der Spiegel reported on Le Cercle due to controversies involving Franz Josef Strauss, a regular attendee. ◦ The Langemann Papers further exposed the group’s election-influencing activities, confirming its role as a “coalition of right-wing intelligence veterans” promoting conservative politicians. • 1990s Scandal: ◦ In the late 1990s, Le Cercle gained attention after a scandal involving Jonathan Aitken, then chairman, who was implicated in arms deals and perjury, leading to his resignation from Parliament. This brought rare public attention to the group. • 2000s and Beyond: ◦ In June 2004, Le Cercle met in Belgrade’s Royal Palace, hosted by Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia. ◦ British MPs Rory Stewart and Nadhim Zahawi, who chaired Le Cercle in the 2010s while serving on the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, faced questions about their involvement, with both denying knowledge of the group’s funding sources. ◦ By 2019, Václav Klaus posted photos from a 2016 Washington, D.C., meeting, indicating continued activity. The group reportedly met biannually, with about 70 guests, though membership remained less fluid than Bilderberg’s.

Connection to Ray S. Cline, Air America, and Operation Gladio • Ray S. Cline: ◦ Ray S. Cline, a senior CIA official (1949–1973), is not explicitly named in primary sources as a Le Cercle member or attendee. However, his leadership in the World Anti-Communist League (WACL), which he helped form in 1966, and his role as CIA station chief in Taiwan (1958–1962) align with Le Cercle’s anti-communist mission and transatlantic networks. WACL’s European affiliates, including Italian branches linked to Gladio, suggest a potential overlap in membership or objectives. ◦ Cline’s work with the Asian People’s Anti-Communist League (APACL) in Taiwan, a WACL precursor, parallels Le Cercle’s support for anti-communist regimes like South Africa’s. His OSS background and connections to figures like Paul Helliwell (involved in CAT/Air America financing) place him in the same intelligence milieu as Le Cercle’s founders, particularly Jean Violet. However, no declassified records confirm his direct participation in Le Cercle meetings. • Air America: ◦ Le Cercle’s ties to intelligence networks and covert funding (e.g., CIA, Shell, Ford Foundation) mirror the CIA’s use of front companies like Air America. Cline’s time in Taiwan coincided with Air America’s operations under the Pacific Corporation, and his anti-communist activities suggest he may have been aware of its role. However, there is no evidence linking Le Cercle directly to Air America’s operations, though both were part of the CIA’s broader anti-communist strategy. • Operation Gladio: ◦ Le Cercle’s alleged connection to Gladio is stronger, given its anti-communist focus and membership of intelligence operatives like Jean Violet and Ted Shackley. The group’s support for NATO’s nuclear policies and its ties to figures like de Bonvoisin suggest alignment with Gladio’s objectives. ◦ Cline’s presence in Germany (1966–1969) and his WACL leadership place him in proximity to Gladio’s European networks, but no specific evidence ties him or Air America directly to Gladio via Le Cercle.

Legacy and Secrecy Le Cercle remains one of the most secretive geopolitical forums, often described as more exclusive than Bilderberg. Its lack of public presence, unpublished agendas, and limited media coverage (except during scandals) have fueled speculation about its influence. Critics, including researchers like David Teacher and Joël van der Reijden, argue that Le Cercle operated as a “deep state” coalition, influencing elections, supporting controversial regimes, and shaping narratives like the “War on Terror.” • Academic Research: Adrian Hänni notes that Le Cercle is “virtually nonexistent in academic research” due to its secrecy and lack of primary sources. The 2011 publication of guest lists by van der Reijden, based on Monique Garnier-Lançon’s papers at Stanford University, provided rare insight into its membership. • Controversial Reputation: X posts (e.g., @Louis_Allday, @GhostStoriesEnd) describe Le Cercle as a “fascist US-UK intelligence network” linked to Iran-Contra and arms deals, reflecting its controversial reputation among critics.

Conclusion Le Cercle, founded in 1952–1953 by Antoine Pinay and Jean Violet, began as a Franco-German anti-communist initiative but grew into a transatlantic network of conservative elites. Its activities included influencing elections, supporting apartheid, and engaging in arms deals, with possible ties to Operation Gladio through shared intelligence networks. While Ray S. Cline’s WACL leadership and CIA roles suggest he operated in a similar sphere, no direct evidence links him, Air America, or Crypto AG to Le Cercle. The group’s secrecy continues to obscure its full impact, but its role in shaping Cold War politics is undeniable. If you’d like a deeper dive into specific members, meetings, or Le Cercle’s alleged role in covert operations, please let me know, and I can explore further!