    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 15 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
    [Page 597]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

    April 8, 2002

    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 Republic of India
    on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at New Delhi on
    October 17, 2001. 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 has concluded or is negotiating in order
    to counter criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should be an
    effective tool to assist in the investigation and prosecution of a wide
    variety of modern crimes, including terrorism-related crimes, drug
    trafficking, and ``white collar'' crimes. The Treaty is self-executing.
        The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal
    matters and related proceedings. Mutual assistance available under the
    Treaty includes: (1) taking the testimony or statements of persons; (2)
    providing documents, records, and items of evidence; (3) locating or
    identifying persons or items; (4) serving documents; (5) transferring
    persons in custody for testimony or other purposes; (6) executing
    requests for searches and seizures; (7) assisting in proceedings
    relating to seizure and forfeiture of assets, restitution, and
    collection of fines; and (8) rendering 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.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     April 8, 2002.