Havana, October 30, 1963
Sra. Lydia Ares Rodríguez
Calle Cárdenas 69
Havana
Compañera,
Your letter has been forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior, since that is the agency responsible for solving such problems.
In any case, I appreciate your attitude toward work and toward the revolution; but I must tell you that, in my personal opinion, your son must serve his sentence because the commission of a crime against socialist property is the gravest offense, independently of any extenuating circumstances.
I am sorry to tell you this, and I regret the suffering it will cause you, but I would not be fulfilling my revolutionary duty were I not to do so frankly.
A revolutionary greeting,
Patria o muerte
Venceremos
Commander Ernesto Che Guevara