    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 3, 1997]
    [Pages 1127-1128]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting Eastern Caribbean States-
    United States Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties With Documentation
    September 3, 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 Treaties Between the Government of
    the United States of America and the governments of four countries
    comprising the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. The Treaties
    are with: Antigua and Barbuda, signed at St. John's on October 31, 1996;
    Dominica, signed at Roseau on October 10, 1996; Grenada, signed at St.
    George's on May 30, 1996; St. Lucia, signed at Castries on April 18,
    1996. I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of
    the Department of State with respect to the Treaties.
        The Treaties are part of a series of modern mutual legal assistance
    treaties being negotiated by the United States in order to counter
    criminal activity more effectively. They should be an effective tool to
    assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, including
    ``white-collar''

    [[Page 1128]]

    crime and drug trafficking offenses. The Treaties are self-executing.
        The Treaties provide for a broad range of cooperation in criminal
    matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaties includes: taking
    of testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records, and
    articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying persons
    or items; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other
    purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in
    proceedings related to forfeiture of assets, restitution to the victims
    of crime, and collection of fines; and 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 these Treaties and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    September 3, 1997.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    September 4.