[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 36 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Page 1282]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting Organization of Eastern Caribbean 
States-United States Legal Assistance Treaties in Criminal Matters and 
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'' 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.