«
Return To Che Guevara Index
Che Guevara Archives
Che's Farewell Letter from Che to Fidel Castro
"Year of Agriculture"
Havana, April 1, 1965
At this moment I remember many things — when I met you
in Maria Antonia's house, when you proposed I come along, all
the tensions involved in the preparations. One day they came
by and asked who should be notified in case of death, and the
real possibility of it struck us all. Later we knew it was true,
that in a revolution one wins or dies (if it is a real one).
Many comrades fell along the way to victory.
Today everything has a less dramatic tone, because we are more
mature, but the event repeats itself. I feel that I have fulfilled
the part of my duty that tied me to the Cuban revolution in
its territory, and I say farewell to you, to the comrades, to
your people, who now are mine.
I formally resign my positions in the leadership of the party,
my post as minister, my rank of commander, and my Cuban citizenship.
Nothing legal binds me to Cuba. The only ties are of another
nature-those that cannot be broken as can appointments to posts.
Reviewing my past life, I believe I have worked with sufficient
integrity and dedication to consolidate the revolutionary triumph.
My only serious failing was not having had more confidence 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 at your side I felt the pride
of belonging to our people in the brilliant yet sad days of
the Caribbean crisis." Seldom has a statesman been more
brilliant as you were in those days. I am also proud of having
followed you without hesitation, of having identified with your
way of thinking and of seeing and appraising dangers and principles.
Other nations of the world summon my modest efforts of assistance.
I can do that which is denied you due to your responsibility
at head of Cuba, and the time has come for us to part.
You should know that I do so with a mixture of joy and sorrow.
I leave here the purest of my hopes as a builder and the dearest
of those I hold dear. And I leave a people who received me as
a son. That wounds a part of my spirit. 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 one may be. This is a
source of strength, and more than heals the deepest of wounds.
I state once more that I free Cuba from all responsibility,
except that which stems from its example. If my final hour finds
me under other skies, my last thought will be of this people
and especially of you. I am grateful for your teaching and your
example, to which I shall try to be faithful up to the final
consequences of my acts.
I have always been identified with the foreign policy of our
revolution, and I continue to be. Wherever I am, I will feel
the responsibility of being a Cuban revolutionary, and I shall
behave as such. I am not sorry that I leave nothing material
to my wife and children; I am happy it is that way. I ask nothing
for them, as the state will provide them with enough to live
on and receive an education.
I would have many things to say to you and to our people, but
I feel they are unnecessary. Words cannot express what I would
like them to, and there is no point in scribbling pages.
Ever onward to victory!
Homeland or Death!
I embrace you with all my revolutionary fervour.
Che
^ Back To Top
« Return To Che Guevara
Index |
|
| Sign up to receive SPECIAL OFFERS! |
|
|
 |
SHOPPING CART
