[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 20 (Monday, May 18, 1998)]
[Pages 857-858]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

May 13, 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 Vincent and the 
Grenadines on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, and a related 
Protocol, signed at Kingstown on January 8, 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 Protocol, and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
May 13, 1998.

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