“There was another institution which gave Billy particular pleasure. It was called Le Cercle, and outside the circle nothing was known about it but the name. Its origins and membership were (and still are) as deeply cocooned in mystery as those of the most exclusive Masonic lodge. It appears to have been founded by the French statesman, Antoine Pinay, and when he retired Julian Amery took over the chairmanship. It seems to have been a small assembly of European and American Conservatives meeting on an ad hoc basis once or twice a year, for two or three days at a time, to exchange views on world affairs. Because of his knowledge and understanding of the Middle East and North Africa, Billy was a most acceptable candidate for membership, which, in due course he acquired. He had already attended several meetings — in Bonn, Munich, Washington and elsewhere — and looked forward to attending more.’
From p. 205 of One Man In His time: The Life of Lieutenant-Colonel N.L.D. (“Billy’) McLean, DSO, by Xan Fielding, (Macmillan, London, 1990).
So who hasn’t been reading his Lobster, then? Not only is the story out, there is much, much more to come. David Teacher has a French-language book on the Pinay Circle out some time next year, and an English-language version should follow. (In a telephone conversation with me Brian Crozier described our version of Pinay as a mixture of fact and fiction. I invited him to correct any errors we had made but have heard nothing.)
Fielding’s account of McLean’s life makes it plain that McLean was an MI6 officer for most, if not all, of the post-war period. If true, Fielding’s claim above about Julian Amery is new.
RR