Catalogue description Treasury: Mutual Aid Division: Registered Files (MA Series)

Chronological within original subject classification (see Treasury Registration Systems)

The Mutual Aid (MA) Division was set up in 1950 to serve the Mutual Aid Committee. The Committee's terms of reference were: "To consider all inter-departmental questions relating to United States financial aid, whether for economic recovery or for defence; and to handle inter-departmental business relating to all forms of military aid from North America, whether in cash or in kind, or arising from the transfer, of military supplies or equipment from this country and other powers in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation."

In 1951 the Mutual Aid Committee took over the functions of the European Economic Co-operation Committee. Its terms of reference were now defined as: consideration of all inter-departmental questions relating to military, economic and financial aid between NATO members; and to the OEEC and other bodies concerned with economic co-operation in Europe. The terms of reference were further revised in 1954 to encompass all inter-departmental questions relating to military, financial and economic aid between countries of the free world, and to the OEEC and other bodies concerned with economic co-operation between nations.

In 1956 the Mutual Aid Committee was transferred to Home and Overseas Planning Staff (HOPS) Division, and then to the Overseas Co-ordination Division in 1958, though its papers continued to be filed in HOP series until 1 April 1960. The Committee was formally replaced by the Sub-Committee (Economic Organisation) of European Economic Questions (Official) Committee in March 1960.