[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 12 (Monday, March 23, 1998)]
[Page 476]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Saint Kitts/Nevis-United States 
Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Documentation

March 20, 1998

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 Saint Kitts and Nevis 
on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Basseterre on 
September 18, 1997, and a related exchange of notes signed at Bridgetown 
on October 29, 1997, and February 4, 1998. 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. 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; 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; 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 related exchange of notes, and give its advice and 
consent to ratification.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
March 20, 1998.