    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [July 8, 1997]
    [Pages 926-927]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Poland-United States
    Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty With Documentation
    July 8, 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 United States
    of America and the Republic of Poland on Mutual Legal Assistance in
    Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on July 10, 1996. 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 activity more effectively. The Treaty should be

    [[Page 927]]

    an effective tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of
    crimes, including ``white-collar'' crime and drug trafficking offenses.
    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
    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 immobilization and 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 the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    July 8, 1997.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    July 9.