[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 173 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-12

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty transmitted to the Senate on November 24, 2003, by the President 
of the United States:

       Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty With Japan, Treaty Document 
     108-12.

  Mr. ENSIGN. I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be 
considered as having been read the first time; that it be referred, 
with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
ordered to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the United States 
of America and Japan on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, 
signed at Washington on August 5, 2003. I transmit also, for the 
information of the Senate, a related exchange of notes and the report 
of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
  The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance 
treaties negotiated by the United States in order to counter criminal 
activities more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective tool to 
assist in the investigation and prosecution of a wide variety of 
crimes. The Treaty is self-executing.
  The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes: taking 
testimony, statements, or items; examining persons, items, or places; 
locating or identifying persons, items, or places; providing items from 
governmental departments or agencies; inviting persons to testify in 
the requesting Party; transferring persons in custody for testimony or 
other purposes; assisting in proceedings related to forfeiture and 
immobilization of assets; and any other form of assistance permitted 
under the laws of the requested Party and agreed upon by the Central 
Authorities of the two Contracting Parties.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, November 24, 2003.

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