[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 18 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Pages 728-729]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

April 28, 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 the Federative 
Republic of Brazil on Mutual Legal Assistance in

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Criminal Matters, signed at Brasilia on October 14, 1997. 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 that the United States is negotiating 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 modern criminals, 
including those involved in terrorism, other violent crimes, drug 
trafficking, money laundering, and other ``white-collar'' crime. The 
Treaty is self-executing, and will not require new legislation.
    The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes:
    (1) Locating or identifying persons or items; (2) serving documents; 
(3) taking testimony or statements of persons; (4) transferring persons 
in custody for testimony or other purposes; (5) providing documents, 
records, and items; (6) executing requests for searches and seizures; 
(7) assisting in proceedings related to immobilization and forfeiture of 
assets, restitution, and collection of fines; and (8) 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,
April 28, 1998.