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The following is the complete text of the letter from Ernesto ers eons to Fidel Castro sxplaining why he was leaving Cuba. ee ack subtle at eople the letter had been delivered to him last April to be eee a . time of his choosing. He indicated that it hed not been mace a whereabe now for reasons of Guevara's personal security and thet — pees had written outs would not be disclosed for ag a Ee cad that Gay.
tters to his family and various 0 s He ates "to donate them to the revolution because we consider that they are
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documents worthy of being part of history.'
Antonia's house,when you suggested my co ’ Spas gee Se preparations. One day they asked who should be notifie soe
ibility of that fact affected us all. Later we knew tha mks Sat ta Fertialicn one wins or dies (if it is a real one) « Many = fell on the way to victory. Today everything is less dramatic ecm : more mature. But the fact is repeated. I feel that I have, SUEea ee : e par of my duty that tied me to the Cuban revolution in its territory, an say good-bye to you, the comrades, your people, who are already mines I formally renounce my positions in the national leadership of the veo = post as minister, my rank of major, and my Cuban citizenship. Nothing eg binds me to Cuba, The only ties are of another natures; those which cannot be broken as appointments can. Recalling my past life, I believe I have worked with sufficient honour and dedication to consolidate the revolutionary triumphs My only serious failing was not having confided more in you from the first moments in the Sierra Maestra, and not having understood quickly enough your qualities as a leader and a revolutionary, I have lived magnificent days and I felt at your side the pride of belonging to our people in the brilliant yet sad days of the Caribean crisis. Few times has a statesman been more brilliant than you in those days. I am also proud of having followed you without hesitation, identified with your way of thinking and of seeing and of appraising dangers and principles. Other nations of the world call for my modest efforts, I can do that which is denied you because of your responsibility as the head of Cuba and the time has come for us to part. I want it know that I do it with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow: I leave here the purest of my hopes as a builder, and the dearest of those I love. And I leave a people that received me as a son. That wounds me deeply, I carry to new battle fronts the fxith that you taught me, the revolutionary spirit of ny people, the feeling of fulfilling the most sacred of duties: to fight/inperialisn wherever it may be. This comforts and heals the deepest wounds, I state once more that I free Cuba from any responsibility, except that which stems from its,example. If my final hour finds me under other skies, my last thought willjot this people and especially of youe I am thankful for your teaching, your example, and I will try to be faithful to the final consequences of my acts. of I have always been identified with the foreign policy /our revolution and I will continue to be. Wherever I am, I will feel the responsibility of being a Cuban revolutionary, and as such I shall behave. I am not sorry that I leave my wife and my children nothing material. I am happy it is that way. I ask nothing for them as I know thé state will provide enough for their expenses and education. I would like to say much to you and to our people, but I feel it is not necessarye Words cannot express what I would want to, and I don't think its worth while to banter phrases, Ever onwards to victory! Homeland or death!
I embrace you with all my revolutionary fervour."
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