For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 24, 2003
Message to the Senate of the United States
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 United States
of America and Japan on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,
signed at Washington on August 5, 2003. I transmit also, for the
information of the Senate, a related exchange of notes and 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 negotiated by the United States 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
crimes. 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 testimony, statements, or items; examining persons, items, or
places; locating or identifying persons, items, or places; providing
items from governmental departments or agencies; inviting persons to
testify in the requesting Party; transferring persons in custody for
testimony or other purposes; assisting in proceedings related to
forfeiture and immobilization of assets; and any other form of
assistance permitted under the laws of the requested Party and agreed
upon by the Central Authorities of the two Contracting Parties.
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,
November 24, 2003.
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