Nicholas Elliot
Nicholas Elliot was an MI6 officer. 'A former head of MI6's London office',[1] Elliot was also engaged with a number of far right and intelligence connected organisations.
- In MI6 counter-intelligence, with postings in Berne, Istanbul, London and Beirut, it was Elliott who confronted Kim Philby in Beirut in 1963, sparking Philby's flight to the Soviet Union. Apart from his Pinay Circle activities Elliott is also a Council Member of the Wilkinson/ McWhirter/Ivens group, the Research Foundation for the Study of Terrorism. Elliott's memoirs are among the numerous works by former intelligence officers [2] which the government will not permit to be published.[3]
- In this country, Cercle regulars number about 15, drawn mostly from the rich Tory right. Leading political lights are Paul Channon and Alan Duncan. David Burnside, the former British Airways public affairs chief, is a member - not for his BA work but for his passionate espousal of Ulster Unionism. Viscount Cranborne, John Major's former senior aide, has attended Cercle gatherings.
- Brian Crozier, the author and well-known Cold-Warrior with close ties to MI6 and the CIA, is a senior member. Anthony Cavendish, the former senior MI5 man, is an old Cercle hand. Nicholas Elliot, the ex-MI6 officer, used to go to their meetings.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Alastair Dalton NAVY PAPERS SHED LIGHT ON THE MURKY DEATH OF DIVING SPYThe Scotsman, October 22, 1998, Thursday, Pg. 5
- ↑ listed in the Guardian 6/6/89
- ↑ David Teacher 'The Pinay Circle and Destabilisation in Europe', Lobster No. 18, October 1989.
- ↑ Chris Blackhurst Aitken dropped by the Right's secret club; Is it the ultimate dishonour? Chris Blackhurst on Le Cercle, an exclusive think-tank said to be funded by the CIA The Independent (London), June 29, 1997, Sunday Page 3
