U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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99–118

" SENATE ! 104TH CONGRESS

1st Session

TREATY DOC.

1995

104–2

TREATY WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM ON MUTUAL

LEGAL ASSISTANCE ON CRIMINAL MATTERS

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

THE TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED

KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, SIGNED AT

WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 6, 1994, TOGETHER WITH A RELATED EXCHANGE OF NOTES SIGNED THE SAME DATE

JANUARY 23, 1995.—Treaty was read the first time and, together with

the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, January 23, 1995.

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

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Mutual

Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on

January 6, 1994, with a related exchange of notes signed the same

date. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect to this 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 modern

criminals, including members of drug cartels, ‘‘white-collar criminals,’’ and terrorists. The Treaty is self-executing.

The Treaty provides for as broad range of cooperation in criminal

matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes: (1)

the taking of testimony or statements of witnesses; (2) the provision of documents, records, and evidence; (3) the service of legal

documents; (4) the location or identification of persons; (5) the execution of requests for searches and seizures; and (6) the provision

of assistance in proceedings relating to the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime and the collection of fines imposed as a sentence in

a criminal prosecution.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Treaty, and related exchange of notes, and give its advice and consent to ratification.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, January 6, 1995.

THE PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the

Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (the

‘‘Treaty’’), signed at Washington on January 6, 1994, together with

a related exchange of notes signed on the same date. I recommend

that the Treaty and the related exchange of notes be transmitted

to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.

The Treaty covers mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

In recent years, similar bilateral treaties have entered into force

with Argentina, the Bahamas, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, the

Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United

Kingdom concerning the Cayman Islands, and Uruguay. Other

similar treaties have been signed and ratified by the United States

(but have not yet entered into force) with Belgium, Colombia, and

Jamaica. In addition, treaties with Nigeria and Panama have been

transmitted to the Senate and await Senate consideration. This

Treaty contains many provisions similar to those in the other treaties.

This Treaty will enhance our ability to investigate and prosecute

drug-related money laundering offenses. It is designed to be selfexecuting and will not require implementing legislation.

Article 1 provides for mutual assistance in ‘‘proceedings’’, which

is defined in Article 19 to include any measure taken in connection

with the investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses, including

the freezing, seizure, and forfeiture of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime and the imposition of fines related to a criminal prosecution.

The Treaty does not contain a provision limiting assistance to offenses which are proscribed under the law of the Party from which

assistance is requested (the ‘‘Requested Party’’). As clarified in the

interpretative notes that accompany the Treaty, however, the Treaty does not apply to anti-trust or competition investigation or proceedings underway at the time the Treaty was signed. This exchange of notes also provides that the Central Authorities of the

Parties may, at a later date, provide assistance in such proceedings

as may be agreed in writing between the Parties.
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Article 1 further provides that assistance under the Treaty shall

include: taking the testimony or statements or persons; providing

documents, records, and evidence; serving documents; locating or

identifying persons; transferring persons in custody for testimony

or other purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures;

identifying, tracing, freezing, seizing, and forfeiting the proceeds

and instrumentalities of crime and assistance in related proceedings; and such other assistance as may be agreed between the

Central authorities.

Article 1 explicitly states that the Treaty does not create rights

in private parties to obtain, suppress, or exclude evidence, or to impede the execution of a request.

Article 2 provides for the establishment of Central Authorities

and defines the Central Authorities for purposes of the Treaty. For

the United States, the Central Authority is the Attorney General

or a person designated by the Attorney General. For the United

Kingdom, the Central Authority is the Secretary of State for the

Home Department or the Secretary’s designee. The article provides

that requests under the Treaty shall be made directly between the

Central Authorities.

Article 3 sets forth the circumstances under which a Party may

deny assistance under the Treaty, including requests related to certain military offenses, offenses of a political character, and requests

relating to an offender who, if proceeded against in the Requested

Party, would be entitled to be discharged on grounds of a previous

acquittal or conviction. In addition, a Requested Party may also

refuse assistance, if, in its view, the request, if granted, would impair its sovereignty, security, or other essential interests or would

be contrary to important public policy. As clarified in the interpretative notes accompanying the Treaty, the limitation based on ‘‘important public policy’’ grounds would include a Requested Party’s

policy of opposing the exercise of jurisdiction which, in its view, is

extraterritorial and objectionable.

Before denying assistance, the Central Authority of the Requested State is required to consult with its counterpart in the Requesting State to consider whether assistance can be given subject

to such conditions it deems necessary. If the Requesting State accepts assistance subject to conditions, it shall comply with the conditions.

Article 4 prescribes the form and content of written requests

under the Treaty, specifying in detail the information required in

each case. The article specifies further information to be provided

to the extent necessary and possible to assist in locating individuals and effecting particular types of assistance.

Article 5 provides that a Request Party shall take whatever steps

it deems necessary to give effect to requests from the other Party.

Courts in the Requested State are empowered to issue subpoenas,

search warrants, or other order orders necessary to execute such

requests.

Article 5 further states that requests be executed in accordance

with the laws of the Requested State unless the Treaty provides

otherwise. The method of execution specified in the request is to be

followed to the extent that it is not incompatible with the laws and

practices of the Requested Party. If the Central Authority of the
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Requested Party determines that execution of the request would

interfere with ongoing proceedings or prejudice the safety of any

person in its territory, it may postpone execution or, after consultations with the Requesting Party, impose conditions on such execution. If the Requesting Party accepts assistance subject to such conditions, it shall comply with them.

Under Article 5, the Central Authority of the Requested Party

shall promptly inform its counterpart in the Requesting Party of

the outcome of the execution of a request. If a request is denied,

a Central Authority shall inform its counterpart of the reasons for

such denial.

Article 6 apportions between the two States the costs incurred in

executing a request. Generally, each State shall bear the expenses

incurred within its territory of executing a request.

Article 7 establishes procedures both for ensuring the confidentiality of requests and their contents. Upon request, the Requested

Party shall keep confidential any information that might indicate

that a request has been made or responded to. However, if a request cannot be executed without breaching confidentiality, the Requested State must inform the Requesting State, so that the Requesting State may determine whether to withdraw the request in

order to maintain confidentiality. Article 7 further obliges the Requesting Party not to use or disclose any information or evidence

obtained under the treaty for purposes unrelated to the proceedings

stated in the request without the prior consent of the Requested

Party. In the interpretative notes, the Parties recognize that these

prohibitions will not prohibit a Requesting Party from disclosing

such information to the extent there is an obligation to do so under

that Party’s Constitution or law. This last clarification was provided to ensure that the United States and the United Kingdom

authorities would be in a position to make available exculpatory information to criminal defendants.

Article 8 provides that the Requested Party may compel, if necessary, the taking of testimony or production of documents in its

territory on behalf of the Requesting Party. In the event that a person whose testimony or evidence is being taken asserts a claim of

immunity, incapacity, or privilege under the laws of the Requesting

Party, the testimony or evidence shall be taken and the claim made

known to the Requesting Party for resolution by its authorities.

Article 8 also requires the Requested Party, upon request, to inform the Requesting Party in advance of the date and place of the

taking of testimony. The Requested Party must also permit the

presence of any persons specified in the request (such as the accused, counsel for the accused, or other interested person) and to

permit such persons to question the person whose testimony is

being taken, through a legal representative qualified to appear before the courts of the Requested Party. Finally, this article provides

a mechanism for authentication of documentary evidence produced

pursuant to this article and provides that no further authentication

or certification shall be necessary in order for such information to

be admissible in evidence in proceedings in the Requesting Party.

Article 9 requires that the Requested Party provide the Requesting Party with copies of publicly available records of government

departments and agencies. The Requested Party may further pro-
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vide copies of other records or information in the possession of a

government department or agency but not publicly available to the

same extent and under the same conditions as it would to its own

law enforcement or judicial authorities. The article requires official

authentication of documents furnished, using forms appended to

the Treaty and confirms their admissibility in evidence in the Requesting Party if so authenticated.

Article 10 provides a mechanism for a Requesting Party to invite

the voluntary appearance and testimony in its territory of a person

located in the Requested Party. In such a case, the Central Authority of the Requested Party is required to invite the person to appear and promptly inform the Central Authority of the Requesting

Party of the person’s response. The request may state that the Requesting Party will assure the person shall not be subject to service

of process or be detained or subjected to restriction of personal liberty, by reason of any acts or convictions which preceded his departure from the territory of the Requested Party. This safe conduct

shall cease fifteen days after the Central Authority of the Requesting Party has notified its counterpart that the person’s presence is

no longer required, or if the person has left the territory of the Requesting Party and voluntarily returns to it.

Article 11 provides for the voluntary transfer to one Party of a

person in custody in the other Party, for purposes of assistance

under the Treaty, provided that the person in question and both

Parties agree. The article establishes the express authority and the

obligation for the Requesting Party to maintain the person in custody unless otherwise authorized by the Requested Party. It further specifies the requirements for ensuring the person’s safety and

return to the Requested Party.

Article 12 provides that the Requested Party shall use its best

efforts to ascertain the location or identity of persons specified in

a request and shall promptly notify the Requesting Party of the results of its inquiries.

Under Article 13, a Requested Party shall, to the extent possible,

effect service of process of any document requested under the Treaty, including subpoenas or other process requiring the appearance

of any person before any authority or tribunal in the territory of

the Requesting Party. Such service, however, does not impose an

obligation under the law of the Requested Party to comply with

such process. The article further requires that any request for the

service of a document requiring a person to appear in the territory

of the Requesting Party be transmitted a reasonable time before

the scheduled appearance. The Requested Party is required to return proof of service.

Article 14 obligates each Party to execute requests for search,

seizure, and delivery of any article to the Requesting Party if the

request includes the information justifying such action under the

laws of the Requested Party and it is carried out in accordance

with the laws of that Party. The Requested Party may refuse such

a request if it relates to conduct for which its own powers of search

and seizure would not be exercisable in a similar circumstance. The

article further provides for the authentication and certification of

evidence delivered under this article and provides that the Central
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Authority of the Requested Party may impose conditions on transfer to protect third party interests in the property.

Article 15 obliges the Requesting Party to return any documents

or articles furnished to it under this treaty unless the Central Authority waives such return.

Article 16 obligates the Parties to assist each other in asset forfeiture proceedings. Specifically, the Parties agree to assist each

other in proceedings involving the identification, tracing, freezing,

seizure, or forfeiture of the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime

and to assist each other in relation to proceedings involving the imposition of fines related to a criminal prosecution. Under this article, a Requested Party may transfer forfeited assets or the proceeds

of their sale to the other Party to the extent permitted by the

former’s domestic law, upon such terms as may be agreed.

Article 17 provides that assistance and procedures provided in

this Treaty shall not prevent the Parties from providing assistance

to each other through the provisions of other international agreements, national laws, or any other arrangement, agreement, or

practice applicable between their law enforcement agencies.

Article 18 provides that the Parties or their Central Authorities

shall consult promptly at the request of either, concerning the implementation of this Treaty. Article 18 also contains novel consultative procedures to enable the Parties to have first recourse to the

Treaty, with respect to any matter for which assistance could be

granted under the Treaty, prior to the enforcement of a ‘‘compulsory measure’’ requiring an action to be performed by a person located in the territory of the other Party. The term ‘‘compulsory

measure’’ is described with greater specificity in the interpretative

notes. Under the consultative mechanisms for dealing with the enforcement of compulsory measures, if a Party is aware that its authorities are intending to take such compulsory measures, its

Central Authority shall inform the other Central Authority, who

may request consultations. Should a Central Authority learn that

such measures may be taken in its territory, it may also request

consultations. Ultimately, should consultations fail to resolve the

matter, cause unreasonable delay, or jeopardize the successful completion of a proceeding, enforcement of the compulsory measure is

not foreclosed. In such instance the Central Authority of the Party

taking such action may give written notice to the other Central Authority of that circumstance. Article 18 finally provides for a general obligation of the parties to exercise moderation and restraint,

even when the Parties’ consultation obligations under this article

are satisfied.

In addition to the consultative mechanism for compulsory measures described above, the interpretative notes commit the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the United States Government, to

take certain specified practical measures to reduce the number of

instances in which a conflict of laws, policies, or national interests

may arise. Specifically, the notes state that the Department of Justice shall: (1) Instruct all federal prosecutors not to seek compulsory measures, as referred to in Article 18(2) with respect to any

matter for which assistance could be granted under the Treaty unless the U.S. Central Authority has concluded that the consultative

mechanisms in Article 18 have been satisfied; (2) instruct all fed-
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eral prosecutors not to enforce any compulsory measures, as referred to in Article 18(2), with respect to any matter for which assistance could be granted under the Treaty unless the U.S. Central

Authority has concluded that the consultative mechanisms in Article 18 have been satisfied; and (3) undertake to discourage the

issue of compulsory measures by other U.S. Government agencies

for evidence located in the United Kingdom in any matter covered

by the Treaty by advising all such agencies not to seek such process without consultation and coordination with the United States

Central Authority.

Article 19 defines the term ‘‘proceedings’’, thus setting forth the

matters for which the Parties will provide assistance under the

Treaty. As noted above, the term ‘‘proceedings’’ means proceedings

related to criminal matters and includes any measure or step taken

in connection with the investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses, including the freezing, seizure or forfeiture of the proceeds

and instrumentalities of crime, and the imposition of fines related

to a criminal prosecution. Article 19 further provides that the

Central Authorities may at their discretion treat as proceedings

such hearings before or investigations by any court, administrative

agency or administrative tribunal with respect to the imposition of

civil or administrative sanctions as may be agreed in writing between the Parties.

Article 20 sets forth the territorial application of the Treaty.

With respect to the United Kingdom, the Treaty shall apply to

England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and to any other territory for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible and to which this Treaty

shall have been extended by agreement between the Parties.

Article 21 provides that the treaty shall be ratified and shall

enter into force upon an exchange of instruments of ratification.

Article 22 provides for termination to be effective six months

after written notice of termination is given by one party to the

other Party.

A Technical Analysis explaining in detail the provisions of the

Treaty is being prepared by the United States negotiating delegation, consisting of representatives from the Departments of Justice

and State, and will be transmitted separately to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The Department of Justice joins the Department of State in favoring approval of this Treaty and related exchange of notes by the

Senate as soon as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

WARREN CHRISTOPHER.
(1)
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