Mutual Security Agency

The Mutual Security Agency (1951–1953) was a US agency to strengthen European allies of World War II through military assistance and economic recovery.

Mutual Security Agency

Predecessor	Economic Cooperation Administration
Formation	October 10, 1951; 73 years ago (1951-10-10)
Dissolved	August 1, 1953; 71 years ago (1953-08-01)
Merger of	Foreign Operations Administration
Purpose	members
Headquarters	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Services	military and economic assistance
Leader	William Averell Harriman (1951–1953) Harold E. Stassen (1953)

History

The Mutual Security Agency was established by the passing of the Mutual Security Act by the United States Congress on October 10, 1951. The purpose of the agency was, in the words of the Act, to organize "military, economic, and technical assistance to friendly countries to strengthen the mutual security and individual and collective defenses of the free world, to develop their resources in the interest of their security and independence and the national interest of the United States and to facilitate the effective participation of those countries in the United Nations system for collective security".^[1] The agency superseded the Economic Cooperation Administration, which had only oversight over economic aid. The new agency was responsible for development and administration of those military and economic assistance programs not administered by the Technical Cooperation Administration.

Reorganization Plan No. 7 1953 (67 Stat. 641) abolished the Mutual Security Agency on August 1, 1953.^[2] The federal organization functions were transferred to the new Foreign Operations Administration.^[3]

Directors of the MSA

The Directorship of the Mutual Security Agency was a Presidential appointment, approved by the United States Senate.

Name	Start	End	President
Averell Harriman	October 19, 1951	January 20, 1953		Harry S. Truman
Harold Stassen	January 27, 1953	August 1, 1953		Dwight D. Eisenhower

See also

• Allies of World War II
• Mutual Security Act of 1951 (Oct 10, 1951; 65 Stat. 378)
• NATO