Bilderberg groupies

Peter Ackroyd

The Bilderberg Group is to hold its twenty-fifth meeting on Thursday, at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay. The Group, which will this year include Margaret Thatcher, Denis Healey, David Rockefeller, Henry Kissinger and various bankers and industrialists, is dedicated 1°` keeping alive a sense ofstrategic collaboralmn and alliances.' It is in this spirit that the Spectator has acquired exclusive rights to the minutes of the meetings of the Group, even before they have taken place.

Imperial Hotel, Torquay The absence of His Royal Highness Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands, sponsor and chairman of the Bilderberg Group for twenty-two years, was regretted by all those present. He had been called away to deal with problems of wild life, in which he has taken a keen interest for many years. Foreign a,ffairs were first on the agenda. Mrs Margaret Thatcher was unanimously c°ngratulated for her perceptive remarks in Peking, when she described Chinese society a, ,S being 'highly centralised,' and Chairman Ma's eyes as 'ruthless.' Mr David Rockefeller, President of' the United States, suggested that the first remark should be Considered a 'definitive perception,' in the , terms of Group's charter, but that the second should have an 'ongoing status., Lord Home, Chairman of Group, also awarded definitive status to another member, Dr Henry Kissinger, whose peace

keeping in Southern Rhodesia had borne so much fruit. Group postponed a decision.

Sir Siegmund Warburg, representing Arab interests, announced that Steering Committee had agreed that a press release should shortly be handed to another parti

cipant, Mr William Rees standing by, Mogg. He was

in the Imperial Hotel's cloakroom, and was ready to depart for London at a moment's notice. The contents of the Dress release had yet to he decided, but he seriously and strongly suggested that it should refer to the restructuring of Group's structure. Despite the presence of his eleven flush industrial colleagues, whose record In Britain was only equalled by that of ign.or Guido Carl i of the Confederation of Italian Industry, also present, he thought very strongly and very sincerely that the Meeting should not be billed in the press as an ,Inclustrialists"get together'. Sir Siegmund, In all humility, suggested that it should be e_a.11ed 'A Conference of Concerned World Citizens Mr C. J. Wilkins, of the Beecham k-IrouP, suggested in turn that it be nomina_ted 'People for People: What We Can do u'or You.' Sir Keith Joseph, another Participant, favoured 'Masterminds' or

'Crossroads.' A decision was postponed until the next Group. Group then turned to the problem of Western Man and The Pursuit of Happiness.

Mr David Orr, of Unilever, opened the proceedings with a lively discussion with Mr Denis Healey about the morality of taxing company cars, but he was ruled out of order by Dr Henry Kissinger who suggested a multi-lateral approach to this highly sen sitive and potentially explosive issue. Sir Arthur Knight, of Courtaulds, put it before Group that money can't buy you love. Mr R. W. Pencock, of ICI, thanked Sir Arthur for his valuable opinion and concurred, adding that happiness cannot be bought

with cash on the nail. M. Olivier Guichard, the French Finance Minister, congratu

lated the previous two speakers on their insights and wisdom, but remarked that a requisite amount of finance was necessary in a total happiness context. Group postponed a resolution until next Group.

The question of funding was now raised. His Royal Highness Prince Bernhardt's contributions, it was announced by Mr Denis Healey, would have to be curtailed this year owing to a large deficiency in the wild life fund. It was hoped that Lockheed would make up the difference, and it was further suggested that Mr David Rocke feller, another participant, would 'put the heat' on Lockheed. Motion was unanimously postponed. The next topic was worker unrest in the civilised nations. Baron Edmond de Roths child suggested that these people should be shot. This gave rise to some respectful but lively conversation. Mrs Thatcher agreed in principle with the Baron, but said that she could not be wholly committed to such a decision without the prior agreement of the Chinese leadership. Signor Guido Carli, head of the Confederation of Italian Industry, suggested in the ensuing discussion that such workers should simply be render ed unemployable, perhaps by breaking their legs. Motion was approved by Group. Sir

Keith Joseph then interposed with a discussion of the validity of the Peasants' Revolt, and Group broke off for lunch.

Group resumed after lunch, and thanked Mrs Thatcher for having prepared such a delicious meal at such short notice. World

econometric bargaining was the next subject on the agenda. Mr Denis Healey of , Britain was congratulated by Group for his success with the British economy over the

last few years he had been attending Group.

Its precepts, it seemed, had been well learned and Britain was now closer to the banking members of Group than had pre viously been thought possible. Another participant, Mr Gordon Richardson, was also congratulated for his recent successes. It was suggested by Ernst van der Beugel that the motto, 'One for All and All for One' should be adopted by Group. There was much laughter at this.

Group then turned to Herr Wunderwecker's plans to abolish industrial democracy in the advanced Western nations. It

was generally agreed to be a sound plan but Dr Henry Kissinger remarked that, however plausible and significant such a move would be, it was not 100% practical at this moment in time. Mr Harold Lever, while not actually dissenting from Dr Kissinger here, reserved judgment until the end of the meeting. Mr Jaques Rommell thought that it was time we took the cow by the horns and stood on thick ice, Mr R.W. Pencock, of ICI, while taking note of the strong views expressed, suggested that the matter be deferred until next Group when a final decision would undoubtedly be reached.

Group then adjourned for High Tea in the Imperial Hotel. It was agreed that a press release should now be issued to Mr William Rees-Mogg, who had been waiting in the cloakroom. It was to say that the aim of Group had been to 'create a better understanding' among nations and that Group intended to 'clear up differences and misunderstandings that might weaken the West.' Group postponed a decision on this issue.