1980s by Der Spiegel in Germany as a result of the controversy surrounding Franz Josef Strauss, one of the regular attendants of the Cercle. In the late 1990s, the Cercle received some attention after a scandal had broken out involving Jonathan Aitken, at the time chairman of Le Cercle. Members that were contacted by newspapers refused to answer any questions. Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Guillaume Long, wrote that the group has "strong links to the intelligence community in Europe and the United States". Sample agenda from 1979 An agenda presented by Brian Crozier noted that its goal to change the British Government had been changed by the election of Margaret Thatcher and among others listed the following objectives: "Undercover financial transactions for political aims"; "International campaigns aiming to discredit hostile personalities or events"; "Creation of a (private) intelligence service specialising in a selective point of view" Chairs 1953–1971: Antoine Pinay 1971–1980: Jean Violet 1980–1985: Brian Crozier 1985–1993: Julian Amery 1993–1996: Jonathan Aitken 1996–2008: Norman Lamont 2008–2013: Michael Ancram 2013–2014: Rory Stewart 2015–2018: Nadhim Zahawi Members Former UK Minister of State for Europe and North America, Alan Duncan, is a member. References Further reading Johannes Großmann (2014). Die Internationale der Konservativen. Transnationale Elitenzirkel und private Außenpolitik in Westeuropa seit 1945. Munich: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 437-496. . David Teacher (2003). Rogue Agents: The Cercle and the 6I in the Private Cold War, 1951-1991. 6th ed. External links #Declassified: Apartheid Profits - Le Cercle: the phantom profiteers Apartheid in South Africa Anti-communist organizations Secret societies