    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 18, 1997]
    [Page 1192]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Australia-United States
    Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty With Documentation
    September 18, 1997

    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 Government of
    the United States of America and the Government of Australia on Mutual
    Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on April 30, 1997,
    and a related exchange of diplomatic notes signed the same date. I
    transmit also, for the information of the Senate, 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 being negotiated by the United States in order to counter
    criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective
    tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, including
    drug trafficking offenses, terrorism and other violent crime, money
    laundering and other ``white-collar'' crime. 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 or statements of persons; providing documents, records, and
    other articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying
    persons; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other
    purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures and for
    restitution; immobilizing instrumentalities and proceeds of crime;
    assisting in proceedings related to forfeiture or confiscation; and
    rendering any other form of assistance not prohibited by the laws of the
    Requested State.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Treaty and related exchange of notes, and give its advice and
    consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    September 18, 1997.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    September 19.