TellShell: Should Shell sue The Independent newspaper for libel?
By Alfred Donovan
Posted 12 Sept 04
I have no wish to monopolise the TellShell forum, but I really must comment on the news report by The Independent newspaper (11 Sept 04) that Shell gave $500,000 towards the cost of the lavish Royal wedding in Brunei. The report states: “The Asian wing of Royal Dutch Shell allegedly bunged in 500,000 Brunei dollars (about pounds 160,000).” The $500,000 gift has also been reported in other newspapers.
“Bunged” of course implies backhander, sweetener, kickback or bribe. If the news report is erroneous and Shell has not in fact “bunged in $500,000” towards the costs of the Royal marriage, will Shell be suing The Independent for libel?
Conversely, if the report is true, how on earth is the alleged “bung” to a Royal family already tainted by scandal, compatible with Shell’s Statement of General Business Principles which expressly prohibits corrupt practices, including bribes?
I appreciate that there are difficult decisions to be made in our hard nosed commercial world, but Shell management cannot have it both ways. Management should either abide by Shell’s own ethical code, or if it wants to make “bungs”, it should scrap the code entirely so that no one will in future be misled by Shell’s promises of honesty, integrity and transparency in all of its dealings.
An interesting reaction from a citizen of a neighbouring Country of Brunei is that Shell’s gesture (the alleged “bung”) has humiliated Asian culture and traditions by not being discreet. In other words my friend is of the opinion that Shell should not have brazenly exploited the “gift” for PR purposes, as appears to be the case.
One last comment on recent events: When will Shell management explain to the investing community its strategy in disposing of assets, one after another, on an international basis, in what appears akin to a fire sale? It is happening so fast and on such a large scale that investors may well become further alarmed.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
