Farewell Letter to Fidel from Che

Although Guevara returned to Cuba on March 5, 1965, his absence from all public functions soon excited comments and, as the months went by, became an international mystery. Finally, on October 3, 1965, during the televised ceremony of the presentation of the newly elected Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Fidel Castro, in the presence of Guevara’s wife and children, read the following letter, Castro explained that the letter had been delivered to him back in April of 1967, and that Guevara had left the timing of its disclosure to Castro’s discretion. He had delayed so long in making it public out of concern for Guevara’s security and, for the same reason at that time could not divulge his whereabouts.

Fidel: At this moment I remember many things – when I met you in Marta Antonia’s house, when you suggested my coming, all the tensions involved in preparations.

One day they asked who should be notified in case of death, and the real possibility of that fact affected us all. Later we knew that it was true, that in revolution one wins or dies (if it is a real one). Many of our comrades fell along the way to victory.

Today, everything is less dramatic, because we are more mature. But the fact is repeated. I feel that I have fulfilled the part of my duty that tied me to the Cuban revolution in its territory, and I say good-bye to you, the comrades, your people, who are already mine.

I formally renounce my position in the national leadership of the party, my post as Minister, my rank as a Major, and my Cuban citizenship. Nothing legal binds me to Cuba now. The only ties are of another nature – those that cannot be broken as appointments can.

Recalling my past life, I believe that I have worked with sufficient honor and dedication to consolidate the revolutionary triumph. 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 Caribbean Crisis. Seldom, 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 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 known 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 who received me as a son. That wounds me deeply. I carry to new battlefronts the faith that you taught me, the revolutionary spirit of my people, the feeling of fulfilling the most sacred of duties: to fight against Imperialism, 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 will be of those people and especially of you. I am thankful for your teaching, your example, and I will try to be faithful to the final consequences of my acts.

I have always been identified with the foreign policy of 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 children and my wife nothing material. I am happy that it is that way. I ask nothing for them, as I know that the state will provide enough for their expenses and education.

I would like to say so much to you and to our people, but I feel it is not necessary. Words cannot express what I would want them to, and I don’t think it’s worthwhile to banter just phrases.

CHE