[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.