Translation is by The Miami Herald.

 On March 22, 24 hours after federal judge Michael Moore announced his historic
 and fair verdict, we expressed to the United States authorities our concern and
 that of Elian Gonzalez's father and other close relatives over the risk of
 psychological and even physical injury that could be intentionally inflicted on the
 child, given the violent nature and the habit of acting with impunity and contempt
 for the law showed by the Mafia surrounding the family that was holding Elian
 captive, once they realized that their cause had failed legally, morally and
 politically.

 The note, drafted in the most sincerely constructive spirit, added: ''Although wide
 and profound differences exist between the United States and Cuba on many
 issues, we harbor the hope that in this particular and delicate matter, which in our
 view may be close to a fair and reasonable solution, both nations will realize their
 duty to prevent truly calamitous risks that are entirely possible.''

 Despite our conviction that it would have been advisable to immediately issue an
 public denunciation of this matter, we abstained from doing so at the request of
 the U.S. authorities who received our message, in order ''to prevent tempers from
 becoming even more heated in this complex situation.'' For several days, we did
 not say a word about the matter.

 We did not doubt the good intentions of the executive branch of the [U.S.]
 government, which desires to solve this embarrassing problem decorously. It also
 became clear that there may be honorable people among the federal judges.

 The unusual and scandalous disregard for the INS' orders showed by the Miami
 Mafia groups and their growing threats, combined with an outrageous and
 perfidious publicity campaign aimed at swaying the opinion of the vast majority of
 Americans who favor Elian's return to Cuba and the restoration of his father's
 unquestionable rights, made it inevitable for us to make public our concerns on
 the mental and physical risks the child was running.

 Our words were intentionally distorted. No mention was made of our accusations
 against the Cuban-American Mafia as being principally responsible for the crisis
 created and the dangers to the child brought about by such crisis. We were
 portrayed as holding the [Miami Gonzalez] family exclusively responsible for
 these dangers. It became necessary for us to clarify and specify the sources of
 information and arguments on which we based our fully justified fears.

 It soon became obvious that chaos reigned in Miami. Some counterrevolutionary
 leaders even spoke of a possible massacre, like the one in Waco, Texas. The
 mayors of Miami rebelled publicly and disavowed the authority of the federal
 government, announcing that the police forces under their control would not
 cooperate with the authorities in Washington in any way whatsoever.

 The house where Elian is being held was surrounded by a permanent guard of
 organized provocateurs who threaten to forcibly resist any legal procedures
 undertaken to comply with a court ruling or administrative orders related to the
 illegal detention of the child. The mere idea of provoking a major scandal that
 would generate images of violence was the ideal weapon for the provocateurs in
 the midst of an election year. The criterion was not justice, but the pettiest
 electoral interests. This led all of the candidates and potential candidates to
 unanimously pronounce themselves in favor of unlawfulness and injustice, which
 further fueled the Mafia groups' brazenness and arrogance.

 Meanwhile, for almost an entire week, a popular television program, tendentious
 and biased, which called into question the most basic ethics that should govern
 the role of the mass media, exacerbated emotions in both Cuba and the United
 States. Scenes of blatant psychological torture and abuse of a young child, as
 well as irrefutable proof of his kidnapping, were seen by millions of people in the
 United States and elsewhere.

 Still, this did not diminish the support of the American people for the return of
 Elian to his father, his closest relatives, and his homeland; on the contrary, it
 increased it. Our people will be grateful for that.

 For days on end, the INS' efforts were rejected, one by one, as the agency
 attempted to secure from the plaintiffs in Miami and their large contingent of
 lawyers a simple pledge to comply with the courts 'ruling and return the child in
 an orderly and peaceful way in the event that the courts ruled against them.
 Respect for the courts is in itself the duty of every citizen.

 International opinion has watched in amazement the events taking place in the
 heart of a country so powerful and influential in the fate of the world. The latest
 incident was the highly unusual case of a vice president and presidential
 candidate from the ruling party who, as part of his competition with the rival
 candidate, now takes sides with those showing contempt for the law and the
 government's provisions, calling on the lawmakers of his own party to support a
 bill put forward by their adversaries in the Senate aimed at swindling the courts
 out of their right to decide the case.

 Major publications and television networks, which could never be suspected of
 sympathizing with Cuba, have been harshly critical of such events and some have
 even recognized the constructive spirit and viability of the offer made by Cuba,
 with the advise and consent of Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, and his
 family.

 This offer, which was received with interest and respect not only in our country but
 also in the United States and elsewhere, is at present the only rational and
 honorable way out of the complex and apparently insoluble problem created by
 the kidnapping of Elian.

 Based on the real fact that the position of those who created the problem is
 totally unsustainable from a legal, ethical and political point of view and that the
 overwhelming majority of American and world opinion favor the boy's return to his
 father without further delay, the proposed formula should be seriously and urgently
 analyzed, for it is no longer possible to continue torturing the child and inflicting
 suffering on his real family. The problem also is emotionally and psychologically
 harming millions of Cuban children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and
 grandfathers. It can be said that it is harming all [Cubans,] whose unshakable
 determination and fighting spirit nobody should doubt.

 Both the child's father and the Cuban authorities have made a major concession,
 even though they do not recognize the jurisdiction of U.S. courts to rule on a case
 which, in accordance with international law and standards, can be decided only in
 the courts of the boy's country of origin. Without renouncing this principle, which
 recently was acknowledged in a ruling issued by a U.S. court of law on the case
 of a Jordanian-American child, it has been agreed that Elian's father will travel to
 the United States with his wife and youngest son to take over custody of Elian,
 until the Atlanta court reaches a decision and the sentence is firm.

 Nothing further can be done to cooperate in the search for a solution to a problem
 created by the U.S. authorities themselves, who never should have turned the
 child over to a distant relative instead of returning him to Cuba as soon as he was
 identified, and who so far have failed to be firm enough to immediately enforce the
 INS' decision, as ratified by the Attorney General and confirmed by a federal court
 judge.

 That executive power has never been waived. Only election-year interests and the
 defiance of the Cuban-American terrorist Mafia can explain the crime committed
 against a Cuban boy who has already suffered considerable psychological injury.

 It is said that Juan Miguel will have to remain in the United States for at least two
 months, but that does not take into account the appeals, tricks and delays of all
 kinds to which Elian's unpunished kidnappers presumably will resort.

 The fact that Elian's father did not travel to Miami, where all manner of hostility
 and danger awaited him, including the risk of indefinite detention on the basis of
 McCarthy-like procedures still observed in that country, was the sole argument
 wielded [by the Mafia groups] in their attempt to discredit and slander Juan
 Miguel, claiming that he was not in the least bit interested in his son. They chose
 to ignore the brutal actions carried out in Miami against all targets of the powerful
 Cuban-American terrorist Mafia.

 That Mafia perfidiously accused Juan Miguel and his family of being hostages of
 the Cuban government. It promised him that everything could be worked out, that
 his son would be returned to him along with countless privileges and riches if he
 renounced his homeland and defected, something truly repugnant to a man of his
 character and deepest beliefs.

 In a telephone conversation he had with his cousin Marisleysis as early as
 December 11, barely two weeks after the kidnapping -- a conversation made
 public here on Friday that clearly reveals his dignity -- Juan Miguel bitterly
 denounced the attempts to bribe him from the very first days of this episode.
 Moreover, because of his refusal to travel to Miami, he was accused of being a
 coward as well.

 But the outcome was not exactly what the plotters of the terrorist Mafia had
 expected. As soon as his willingness to travel to the United States was
 announced, because it was felt that the time had come for him to resume custody
 if the boy was immediately turned over to him -- according to the INS decision and
 Judge Moore's ruling -- and remain with him in the United States for as long as
 necessary, new pretexts and threats were raised, along with hysterical, loud
 refusals to surrender him. All this developed into an increasingly chaotic and
 uncontrollable situation in Miami.

 They said he had to go collect his son at the place where the boy was being kept
 -- a house surrounded by ruffians -- in which case they would surrender him only if
 the boy wished to leave. They were convinced that the child would refuse, since
 they trusted he would react as a tamed little animal subjected for four months to
 pressures and psychological torture, as well as to gross attempts to buy his
 attention with the most varied and sophisticated toys.

 Although the Mafia was paralyzed when it learned that Juan Miguel would be
 traveling to the United States, as soon as they heard that he would be staying
 with his family and others at the residence of the head of our Interests Section,
 they stated that they would never surrender the child in a place that is Cuban
 territory since he would not be free there but just a prisoner of the Cuban
 government.

 According to them, the doctors traveling with Juan Miguel to attend to the boy's
 recovery will be Cuban State Security agents assigned to watch [the father.] The
 number of people accompanying the family was questioned, and the old demand
 that Juan Miguel travel only with his wife, who is breastfeeding a 6-month-old baby
 boy, and perhaps with Elian's favorite cousin, who is in fifth grade of grammar
 school, was recycled.

 Accustomed as they are to rallies seldom attended by more than 100 people, the
 30 persons traveling with Juan Miguel to Washington seemed like a large crowd
 to them. And of course, no advisor should accompany the young and modest
 father, who has never traveled to the United States; he should manage alone in
 that enormous and complex country he knows so little about. He should go stay
 in a hotel room, live there for months and perhaps then they might surrender to
 him his child, so badly in need of urgent psychological and physical care.

 It is outrageous to think that anyone from our country would agree to such
 demeaning conditions. Even a [U.S.] government spokesman, undoubtedly
 deceived by a provocative question, described Castro's proposal as threats and
 pressures and described as a ''long litany'' the list of 12 6-year-old children -- only
 two of them are 7 years old -- two teachers who taught the boy in kindergarten
 and first grade, plus a selected group of psychologists, psychiatrists and medical
 specialists and two licensed nurses to carry out their noble and humane work at
 no cost to the United States government.

 Public opinion in that country welcomed that proposal with respect and
 satisfaction. American authorities, as well as outstanding and prestigious political
 figures, have expressed their hope that the father's presence can decisively
 contribute to solving the embarrassing issue. This encourages us to persevere in
 our efforts.

 Those bent on creating obstacles to the father's presence in America, those
 intent in petty and ridiculous intrigue, should know that Juan Miguel has
 absolutely no fear, that in our country nobody is fearful, not even the children and
 their parents, eager as they are to help Elian. Everyone, without exception, has
 been supportive and the more than 800 students at the school in Cardenas where
 Elian studied are anxious to see their famous little classmate back, and they all
 would volunteer to be among the 12 selected children.

 Twelve children were chosen among his closest classmates because that was
 the minimum required, according to eminent educators, to establish a functional
 classroom to meet Elian's needs. His two teachers, known and loved by Elian
 from kindergarten and first grade, are considered indispensable. A properly
 qualified group of psychologists, psychiatrists and medical specialists working as
 a team would provide care not only to Elian but also to his family, among them
 Juan Miguel's wife, Elian's 6-month-old baby brother and his 12 classmates,
 whose parents hold us accountable for the continuation of their studies and the
 preservation of their health.

 If the kidnappers' excuse -- and that of the Mafia and extreme right-wingers who
 support them -- to avoid returning the child to his father or to urge the authorities
 not to grant the visas, is that they will never surrender the boy to a residence
 considered Cuban territory, our Interests Section in Washington is willing to waive
 the diplomatic immunity that protects the home of the chief of that section. It
 would not be the first time we have done something similar.

 Nobody would dare do anything against those children, because they will be
 protected by American public opinion, the American people, the nation's honor,
 and all the men and women who work in our Interests Section in the United
 States capital, who are willing to lay down their lives for them. Eleven million
 Cubans remain here as a guarantee that no one in the world would dare to even
 touch those children.

 As we have no time to lose, tomorrow Monday, as soon as the U.S. Interests
 Section in Havana opens, we shall apply for visas for 28 people -- after writing off
 three people, since their tasks could be performed by other team members -- who
 together with Juan Miguel and his family will form a working group.

 The plane will be ready for departure on Tuesday, provided the visas applied for
 were ready by then. We'd rather have everything ready before Elian is handed
 over. That way, Juan Miguel, his wife and baby, and Elian's 10 years old cousin
 will be accompanied by 10 boys and girls who are 6 years old, two who are 7
 years old and two teachers, for a total of 18 people. Also, nine others, including
 psychologists, psychiatrists, medical specialists, nurses, and the person who
 has been Juan Miguel's advisor for four months.

 We don't want any of those Cuban children to go without medical care as is the
 case with millions in that country, mostly Hispanics and blacks. We hope nobody
 now says this is a terrible commando planning to land in the United States,
 kidnap Elian and destabilize that nation.

 Juan Miguel, the boy's father and the only one with full custody rights, has asked
 me to make public his position concerning everything that has recently been said
 to question his honor, his dignity, his love for his son and the reasons for which
 he requested to be accompanied by the children and others. He said:

 ''If it's a question of surrendering the child so he can be immediately returned to
 Cuba, I am ready to travel tomorrow, Monday April 3, absolutely alone, to any
 place in the United States of America and go from the airport to any place where
 the boy might be to fetch him, return to the airport and fly back immediately to
 Cuba. I do not wish to talk to any kidnapper or accept any conditions, least of all
 a media show or publicity over Elian's return. Only the U.S. government can say if
 it prefers this alternative.

 ''If it's a question of traveling to the United States to receive Elian and remain there
 waiting for two months with my wife, who is breastfeeding and caring for my other
 son -- a 6-month-old baby sensitive to the tension endured by his mother -- and a
 cousin who studies in fifth grade of grammar school and might fail his school year
 due by helping me recover my son, severely traumatized by a shipwreck and four
 months of psychological pressures and political and publicity manipulations,
 including eight hours of a shameful televised interview, then it should be
 understood that it is my right to create the minimum conditions required and to
 get the support of Elian's classmates and teachers and highly qualified people I
 fully trust to help me in this task and my whole mission in America. Otherwise,
 such a trip would be meaningless.''

 Here, his message ends.

 Last Friday, during the latest round-table discussion, Marisleysis, the distant
 cousin who suddenly found a son she had never seen before, as a gift from
 Heaven, and hoped for a miracle to keep him -- as if God shared her views about
 family and justice -- so awash in tears that we feared she would drown, said
 mournfully that she would like to visit the child but was afraid that we would never
 allow it.

 If she really felt the need to see Elian, whose presence, according to her, has
 been the greatest thing that ever happened to her, or if she sincerely believes that
 it would hurt the child to be separated from her after four months of kidnapping,
 she should know that she can visit our country as many times as she likes, every
 weekend if she so desires. Our people, who have angrily condemned what has
 happened, are not vengeful or rancorous. They would never treat her with any
 hostility. Our humane and noble people respect everything that might seem noble
 and humane.

 Although only Elian's father and grandparents have the final word on that, I know
 them well enough to say that, being decent people concerned only about their
 dear Elian's health, safety and happiness, they would be generous and forgiving.

 If our offer to the United States is implemented transparently and sincerely, an
 honorable and reasonable solution is perfectly possible. That would be of benefit
 not only to Elian, his father and family but also to the United States.

 That boy not only is running a mental risk due to the suffering he has endured so
 far and will continue to endure in his grim captivity, but also his life is in danger.
 The sooner he is returned to his father, the lesser the moral risk to the United
 States, whose government cannot ignore what that criminal Mafia can do. If
 anything happened to that boy, an indelible blot would stain that nation's history.

 If an adequate and possible solution is reached, Cuba will enjoy the satisfaction of
 a job well done, but it will waste no time pointing out that the causes that led to --
 and will continue to lead to -- Elian's tragedy, and to similar or worse tragedies,
 have not been addressed. I will continue to fight for as long as it takes, until this
 and many other situations that for more than 40 years have caused pain,
 humiliation and great harm to our people cease to exist.

 Everything has been stated very clearly. We hope it can be useful.

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald