From: Nicky Molloy 
Subject: SNET: The Bilderberg Group - The Invisible Power House
Date: 7 Oct 2000 08:23:07 -0400
To: The Anti Christ ,
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http://www.nexusmagazine.com/Bilderbergers.html
The Bilderberg Group
- The Invisible Power House -
With its membership selected from the power élite of Europe and North
America, many wonder if the Bilderbergers are conspiring to establish a 'new
world order'.


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Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 3, #1 (Dec '95-Jan '96).
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. editor@nexusmagazine.com
Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381
>From our web page at: www.nexusmagazine.com


© 1994 by Armen Victorian,
PO Box 99, West PDO,
Nottingham, NG8 3NT UK



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The conspiracy theory writers have repeatedly linked one powerful global
elite, the Bilderberg Group, with the ultimate take-over of the world.
Members of the Bilderberg together with their 'sister' organisations-the
Trilateral Commission (known also as the "Child of Bilderberg")(1) and the
Council on Foreign Relations(2)-are charged with the post-war take-over of
the democratic process. The measures implemented by this group so far prove
the control of the world economy through indirect political means.

The constitution of several democratic monarchies of the Western Europe bans
members of their royal families from playing an active role in the political
process. However, the Bilderberg meetings provide this exact forum and
platform for them.
"This unprecedented period of European cooperation is more than a product of
simple nation-state diplomacy. One of the key institutions that has fostered
unity and cooperation with the Atlantic Community beyond the old concepts
has been the Bilderberg Group."(3)
"I tell you frankly that I am deeply alarmed today over the possibility that
a right-wing reaction may draw some sections of capital so far away from our
traditions as to imperil the entire structure of American life as we know
it."(4)

These comments by Pasymowski and Gilbert(3) two decades ago may seem out of
phase with the current events in former Yugoslavia, but, in terms of the
continued stability of the "European State", they have proven to be largely
accurate. Warfare has been removed from the intra-European systems as a
means of controlling and directing nationalistic goals and ideas. Even in
the case of former Yugoslavia, one observes that the current state of war
has resulted from Tito's and the Soviet Union's demise. Consequently, the
lid has been lifted on rivals and racial memories which had been
artificially kept in place for previous decades. The several proto-states
which make up the former Yugoslavia were not part of the economic and social
development programs which evolved in Western Europe. As we would see, the
way in which the rest of Europe evolved and developed was very different,
and for very particular reasons.

Whether co-incidence or not, it is equally ironic that the current Chairman
of the Bilderberg, Lord Carrington, was the first UN-appointed
representative to bring peace to the war-torn Yugoslavia.

ORIGINS
The single most important personality connected with the birth and creation
of the Bilderberg Group is Joseph H. Retinger (also known as L'Eminence-His
Grey Eminence). Retinger had a colourful, lifelong career that raised him to
the top of the world power élites. At his funeral in 1960, Sir Edward
Bedington-Behrens said:
"I remember Retinger in the United States picking up the telephone and
immediately making an appointment with the President, and in Europe he had
complete entrée in every political circle as a kind of right acquired
through trust, devotion and loyalty he inspired."

Retinger, as a Catholic, was viewed by many as an agent of the Vatican,
acting in liaison between the Pope and the Father-General of the Jesuit
order.

One of Retinger's renowned achievements in European politics was the
founding of the European Movement, leading to the establishment of the
Council of Europe on 5th May 1949. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, the
Council Executive Committee provided Retinger his first major platform for
his expansive ideology. From his earlier days at the Sorbonne, Retinger
believed in greater European unity, both in military and economic terms. It
was also at the same time when his interest in the guidance of the Jesuit
order manifested itself. He spent a great deal of his time fulfilling these
ambitions. He suggested to Premier Georges Clemenceau a plan to unite
Eastern Europe-involving the merging of Austria, Hungary and Poland as a
tripartite monarchy under the guidance of the Jesuit order. Clemenceau,
doubtful of the Vatican-inspired plan, rejected Retinger's proposal
outright. This plan labelled Retinger, thereafter, as a Vatican agent.

Retinger's activities were not limited to uniting Europe. Through his
several trips to Mexico he played a key role in the creation of a trade
union movement in the 1920s. Due to his unprecedented success, and by
gaining the Mexican Government's trust, Retinger convinced them to
nationalise the US oil interest in Mexico. In the process, Retinger
conducted the secret negotiations with Washington for the Mexican
Government.

Retinger also had an active war career. He was the political aide to General
Sikorski, and served for the London-based Polish Government-in-exile. In
addition, at the age of 58, he parachuted into German-occupied territory
outside Warsaw for some sabotage missions.

Due to his high-profile career, in the 1950s he was able to create contacts
with numerous high-ranking military officials and political leaders. His
main aim was to unite the world in peace. His peace dividend was to be under
the control of supernational, powerful organisations. He believed that such
organisations would be immune from short-term ideological conflicts erupting
between governments. To Retinger, it was insignificant what dominated the
economic ideology of a country. He believed these differences could be
brought into line by powerful multinational organisations dictating and
applying powerful economic and military policies, thereby creating a union
and a bond between the nations.

Retinger's personal 'left-wing' views from his heady days convinced him that
many leaders of newly born socialist and communist nations would be prepared
to talk to him. Additionally, his Church background gave him an arena for
dialogue with people from the middle-ground connections in international
relations.

Nevertheless, Retinger knew that control of the world affairs cannot be
achieved without US participation. In pursuit of this ideology, he began a
campaign for the creation of an Atlantic Community. This would make the
development of Europe an important political aim for the American
politicians, thereby preventing their retreat into political isolation.

Retinger, with this in mind, set out his carefully calculated move by
involving one of his close and powerful friends, Prince Bernhard of the
Netherlands. Prince Bernhard, at the time, was an important figure in the
oil industry and held a major position in Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell Oil),
as well as Société Générale de Belgique-a powerful global corporation.

In 1952 Retinger approached Bernhard with a proposal for a secret conference
to involve the NATO leaders in an open and frank discussion on international
affairs behind closed doors. The meeting would allow each participant to
speak his mind freely because no media representative would be permitted
inside; nor would there be any news bulletin about the meeting or the topics
discussed. Furthermore, if any leaks occurred, the journalists would be
discouraged from writing about it.

Prince Bernhard fully supported Retinger's proposal for an international
meeting. Consequently, they formed a committee to organise a plan. In 1952,
Bernhard approached the Truman administration and briefed them about the
meeting. Despite a positive reception, it was not until the Eisenhower
administration when the first American counterpart group was formed. The two
key role-players in the US group were General Walter Bedell Smith (Director
of the CIA) and C. D. Jackson. Both (European-American) groups working
interactively set out to fulfil Retinger's initial plan. From the outset,
the American group was heavily influenced by the Rockefeller family, the
owners of Standard Oil-competitors of Bernhard's Royal Dutch Petroleum. From
then on, the Bilderberg business reflected the concerns of the oil industry
in its meetings.

According to Bilderberg's draft document of 1989:
"Bilderberg takes its name from the Bilderberg Hotel in Oosterbeek, Holland,
where the first meeting took place in May 1954. That pioneering meeting grew
out of the concern expressed by many leading citizens on both sides of the
Atlantic that Western Europe and North America were not working together as
closely as they should on matters of critical importance. It was felt that
regular, off-the-record discussions would help create a better understanding
of the complex forces and major trends affecting Western nations in the
difficult post-war period."(5)

Retinger's main aim in creating Bilderberg had other more important,
inherent aspects than an informal gathering of a group of the world's élite.
It has been suggested that Bilderberg meetings ultimately would have
implemented group dynamics techniques in the shape of a low- key
international thinking group with the purpose of sensitising the less
enlightened of its membership towards the new transitional diplomacy of the
Cold War.

The first meeting witnessed the gathering of ideologies, poles apart. The
issue of McCarthyism was reaching its peak in the United States. European
participants, exasperated with the McCarthy propaganda, saw in their
American counterparts a clear political shift towards an ultra-right-wing
fascist state. Memories of World War II still fresh in their minds, the
Europeans found the concept rather repulsive.

C. D. Jackson (a member of the CFR), in an attempt to regain the
international delegates' confidence, stated:
"Whether McCarthy dies by an assassin's bullet or is eliminated in the
normal American way of getting rid of boils on body politics, I prophesy
that by the time we hold our next meeting he will be gone from the American
scene."(6)

Nevertheless, McCarthyism proved to be a source of embarrassment for the US
delegate.

OTHER GROUPS
The concept of Bilderberg was not new. Although similar groups were already
in existence at the time, none attracted and provoked global myths the way
Bilderberg has.

Groups such as Bohemian Grove, established in 1872 by San Franciscans,
played an equally significant role in shaping post-war politics in the US.
"It was at the Grove, it is said, that the Manhattan Project was set up and
that Eisenhower was selected as the Republicans' candidate for 1952."(7)

The Ditchley Park Foundation was established in 1953 in Britain with the
same aim.(8)

Two years earlier, in 1952, Britain's Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery had
suggested the idea of a NATO command-post exercise (a paper drill; no
movement of forces) to train army divisional commanders. General Eisenhower,
who was then NATO's European Commander, accepted it. As a result, the
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe Exercise-SHAPEX-was created.
Ever since, an annual meeting has been held in SHAPE headquarters near Mons,
Belgium, and the subject has been broadened to incorporate a wide array of
topics.

The historical review of these groups reflects a sudden flourishing trend,
and the realisation by the world's leaders of the need for creation of, at
times, such overt concepts. The idea of establishing such élite groups did
not die with the birth of Bilderberg.

In 1957, the first of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
took place.9 Pandit Nehru offered to host the first meeting. The founder
members were personalities such as Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein.
Scientists from the United States and Soviet Union were regular participants
in this East-West gathering of élites. Britain is known for its active
participation and role in this group.
"The best feature of Pugwash is that it brings together people from East,
West and non-aligned countries."(9)

Pugwash proved particularly valuable at the time when the relation between
East and West was at a stalemate. Many significant topics were discussed in
this forum. Ways of monitoring arms control agreements, nuclear disarmament,
and reduction of East-West tensions were always on the top of the agenda. In
the 1970s Pugwash embraced a range of issues including biological, chemical
and conventional arms control, environment and development problems as well
as conflicts around the world.

One of the latest groups is the Williamsburg, better known as the Asian
Window. Its first meeting was financed by the late John D. Rockefeller in
1971, and continues to date. It brings together the Asian leaders and the
Americans. Williamsburg has been particularly effective for discussing
Vietnam, or the Indonesian corruption, or supposedly non-existent Japanese
exchange controls. Different experiences of trade with China and Russia, or
how Singapore has a lower infant mortality than America, have been some of
the topics in the Williamsburg forum.

Nonetheless, none of these groups-including the Council on Foreign Relations
and the Trilaterals-commands the influence the Bilderberg has obtained in
shaping and dictating global policies.

CHAIRMAN
"The first [Bilderberg] meeting was convened under the chairmanship of H. R.
H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, who served as chairman for twenty-two
years. He was succeeded by Lord Home of the Hirsel, former Prime Minister
for the United Kingdom, who chaired the meetings for four years. At the 1980
meeting, Lord Home turned over the chairmanship to Walter Scheel, former
President of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1985, Mr Scheel resigned,
and was succeeded by Lord Roll of Ipsden, President of S. G. Warburg Group
plc. At 1989 meeting, Lord Roll turned over the chairmanship to Lord
Carrington,"(10) who still chairs the meetings.

CHARACTER OF BILDERBERG MEETINGS
"What is unique about Bilderberg as a forum is (1) the broad cross-section
of leading citizens, in and out of government, that are assembled for nearly
three days of informal discussion about topics of current concern especially
in the fields of foreign affairs and the international economy; (2) the
strong feeling among participants that, in view of the differing attitudes
and experiences of the Western nations, there is a clear need to develop an
understanding in which these concerns can be accommodated; and (3) the
privacy of these meetings, which has no purpose other than to allow leading
citizens to speak their minds openly and freely.

"In short, Bilderberg is a recognised, flexible and informal international
leadership forum in which different viewpoints can be expressed and mutual
understanding enhanced."(11)

In further recognition of this aspect, Paddy Ashdown, the Leader of the
Liberal Party and a participant in the 1989 Bilderberg meeting, wrote to me:

"In view of the recent events right across Europe, this has turned out to
have been an exceptionally useful opportunity to meet and discuss with many
of the most expert people in the world on international relations. I found
it a very stimulating and informative gathering."(12)

But others, such as Prince Charles, Lord Callaghan and Sir Edward Heath,
were rather shy in their responses.(13)

PARTICIPANTS
There are usually 115 participants in each annual meeting. Eighty are from
Western Europe and the remainder from North America. From this mixture,
one-third are from government and politics, and the remaining two-thirds
from industry, finance, education and communications. All the participants
claim to attend the meeting in their private capacity and not as
officials-though this claim, in the wake of the outcome of subsequent
meetings, has proven to be highly questionable.

Participants are invited to the Bilderberg meeting by the Chairman,
following his consultations and recommendations by the Steering Committee
membership, the Advisory Group and the Honorary Secretaries-General. This
approach ensures a full, informed and balanced discussion of the agenda
items. The individuals are chosen based on their knowledge, standing and
experience. The previous participants maintain that, at the meetings, no
resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken and no policy statements are
made.

FUNDING
The costs of the annual meetings are usually the responsibility of the
Steering Committee members of the host country. But, the expenses of
maintaining the Bilderberg meetings are covered entirely by private
subscriptions. Although the meeting reports are published, nevertheless they
are strictly for the participating members only. No reports are made
available to the media.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Members' Steering Committee:


Chairman: Peter, Lord Carrington-Chairman of the Board, Christie's
International plc; Former Secretary-General NATO.
Secretary-General for Europe and Canada: Victor Halberstadt-Professor of
Public Economics, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
Secretary General for USA: Theodore L. Elliot, Jr-Dean Emeritus, The
Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy; Former US Ambassador.
Treasurer: Pieter Korteweg-President and Chief Executive Officer, Robeco
Group.
Austria: Peter Jankowitsch-Member of Parliament, Former Foreign Minister.
Belgium: Etienne Davignon-Chairman, Société Générale de Belgique; Former
Vice Chairman of the Commission of the European Communities.
Finland: Jaakko Iloniemi-Managing Director, Centre for Finnish Business and
Policy Studies; Former Ambassador to the USA.
France: Marc Lardreit de Lacharrère-Chairman, Fimalac. Thierry de
Montbrial-Director, French Institute of International Relations; Professor
of Economics, Ecole Polytechnique.


Germany: Christoph Bertram- Diplomatic Correspondent, Die Zeit.
Hilmar Kopper-Spokesman of the Board of Managing Directors, Deutsche Bank
AG.


Greece: Costa Carras-Director of companies.
Ireland: Peter D. Sutherland-Chairman, Allied Irish Bank plc; Former Member,
Commission of the European Communities.
Italy: Mario Monti-Rector and Professor of Economics, Bocconi University,
Milan.
Renato Ruggiero-Member of the Board, Fiat SpA; Former Minister of Foreign
Trade.


Norway: Westye Hoegh, Ship Owner, Leif Hoegh & Co AS.
Portugal: Francisco Pinto Balsemao-Professor of Mass Communication, New
University of Lisbon; Chairman, Sojornal sarl; Former Prime Minister.
Spain: Jamie Carvajal Urquijo-Chairman and General Manager, Iberfomento.
Sweden: Percy Barnevik-President and CEO, ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
Switzerland: David de Pury-Chairman, BBC Brown Boveri Ltd; Co-Chairman, ABB
Asea Brown Boveri Group.
Turkey: Selahattin Beyazit-Director of companies.
United Kingdom: Andrew Knight-Executive Chairman, News International plc.
United States of America: Kenneth W. Dam-Max Pam Professor of American and
Foreign Law, University of Chicago Law School; Former Deputy Secretary of
State.
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr-Partner, Akin, Gump, Hauer & Field, Attorneys-at-Law;
Former President, National Urban League.
Henry A. Kissinger-Former Secretary of State; Chairman, Kissinger
Associates, Inc.
Charles McC. Mathias-Partner, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue; Former US Senator
(Republican, Maryland).
Rozanne C. Whitehead-Former Deputy Secretary of State.
Lynn R. Williams-International President, United Steel- Workers of America.
Cassimir A. Yost-Executive Director, The Asia Foundation's Center for
Asian-Pacific Affairs.
United States of America/International: James D. Wolfensohn-President, World
Bank; President, James D. Wolfensohn, Inc.
Members of Advisory Group:


Canada: Anthony G. S. Griffin-Director of companies.
Germany: Otto Wolff von Amerongen-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Otto
Wolff Industrieberatung und Beteiligungen GmbH.
International: Max Kohnstamm-Former Secretary-General, Action Committee for
Europe; Former President, European University Institute.
Italy: Giovanni Agnelli-Chairman, Fiat SpA.
Netherlands: Ernst H. van der Beugel-Emeritus Professor of International
Relations, Leiden University; Former Honorary Secretary-General of
Bilderberg Meetings for Europe and Canada.
United Kingdom: Lord Roll of Ipsden-President, S. G. Warburg Group plc.
United States of America: George W. Ball-Former Under-Secretary of State.
William P. Bundy-Former Editor, Foreign Affairs.
David Rockefeller-Chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank International Advisory
Committee.
CONFERENCES, 1954-1992
29-31 May 1954: Oosterbeek, Netherlands.
18-20 March 1955: Barbizon, France.
23-25 September 1955: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, W. Germany.
11-13 May 1956: Fredensborg, Denmark.
15-17 February 1957: St Simons Island, Georgia, USA.
4-6 October 1957: Fiuggi, Italy.
13-15 September 1958: Buxton, England.
18-20 September 1959: Yesilköy, Turkey.
28-29 May 1960: Bürgenstock, Switzerland.
21-23 April 1961: St Castin, Canada.
18-20 May 1962: Saltsjöbaden, Sweden.
29-31 May 1963: Cannes, France.
20-22 March 1964: Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
2-4 April 1965: Villa d'Este, Italy.
25-27 March 1966: Wiesbaden, W. Germany.
31 March 2 April 1967: Cambridge, England.
26-28 April 1968: Mont Tremblant, Canada.
9-11 May 1969: Marienlyst, Denmark.
17-19 April 1970: Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.
23-25 April 1971: Woodstock, Vermont, USA.
21-23 April 1972: Knokke, Belgium.
11-13 May 1973: Saltsjöbaden, Sweden.
19-21 April 1974: Megìve, France.
25-27 April 1975: Çesme, Turkey.
1976: No conference was held.
22-24 April 1977: Torquay, England.
21-23 April 1978: Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
27-29 April 1979: Baden, Austria.
18-20 April 1980: Aachen, W. Germany.
15-17 May 1981: Bürgenstock, Switzerland.
14-16 May 1982: Sandefjord, Norway.
13-15 May 1983: Montebello, Canada.
11-13 May 1984: Saltsjöbaden, Sweden.
10-12 May 1985: Rye Brook, New York USA.
25-27 April 1986: Gleneagles, Scotland.
24-26 April 1987: Villa d'Este, Italy.
3-5 June 1988: Telfs-Buchen, Austria.
12-14 May 1989: La Toja, Spain.
11-13 May 1990: Glen Cove, New York, USA.
6-9 June 1991: Baden-Baden, Germany.
21-24 May 1992: Evian-les-Bains, France.

Though the entire topics of the Bilderberg meetings since its establishment
are known to me, listing these topics would occupy several pages, which is
not within the scope of this writing. However, I should perhaps include
herewith the topics of the first meeting (1954) and the 1992 meeting which,
in themselves, provide an insight into the evolution of this group, the
Bilderberg.

29-31 May 1954: Oosterbeek, Netherlands A. The attitude towards communism
and the Soviet Union.
B. The attitude towards dependent areas and people overseas.
C. The attitude towards economic policies and problems.
D. The attitude towards European integration and the European Defence
Community.

21-24 May 1992: Evian-les-Bains, France A. Prospects for the former Soviet
republics.
B. What should be done for Eastern Europe?
C. Whither the United States?
D. The world economy.
E. Whither Europe?
F. Soviet Union: the view from Moscow.
G. The migration issue.
H. The evolving west/west relationship.

Footnotes:
1. The issue concerning the history and the activities of the Trilateral
Commission is a separate one to be dealt with in another paper.
2. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) requires separate attention which
I would discuss in another paper. However, I should add that the CFR does
not accept non-US members.
3. Pasymowski, Eugene and Carl Gilbert, Bilderberg: The Cold War
Internationale, 1971.
4. Charles E. Wilson, addressing the National Association of Manufacturers
in 1946.
5. Extract from a Bilderberg document. This document was given to the
author, prior to its official publication, by one of the members of the
Bilderberg Group. Later on, an official format was also provided to the
author by another member, which proved the authenticity of the record in
point.
6. Hatch, Alden, H. R. H. Bernhard, Prince of the Netherlands, 1962.
7. "Our Good Conference Guide", The Economist, December 1987.
8. The issue concerning the Ditchley Foundation requires a separate paper.
For many years I have been studying this Foundation and have had the
opportunity of discussing its achievements, goals and missions with several
of its members and invited participants.
9. Op. cit., 7.
10. Bilderberg Meetings, 1989, p. 1 (Bilderberg record).
11. Op. cit. 5, p. 1.
12. Letter from Paddy Ashdown, Leader of the Liberal Party, dated 3 January
1990, to the author.
13. Former Prime Minister Lord Callaghan's letter of 19 October 1989, to the
author. Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath's letter of 1 November 1989,
to the author. Letter of 30 October 1989 from St James's Palace, to the
author. Prince Charles participated in the 1986 Bilderberg annual meeting
held in Scotland.




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