The father of Edward Snowden sent a letter to the Justice Department on Thursday, laying out a series of arrangements that he believes would convince his son to give himself up to the United States (not that he's talked to his son about these proposals).

Lonnie G. Snowden, a former officer for the Coast Guard, had his lawyer draft a letter, obtained by CNN, which requested that Snowden remain free prior to his trial, not have a gag order placed on him, and to be tried in the place of his own choosing.

The letter says that if any of these demands are broken, the prosecution against Snowden would be dropped.

"With these written representations and guarantee, Mr. Snowden is reasonably confident that his son could be persuaded to surrender voluntarily to the jurisdiction of the United States to face trial," the older Snowden's lawyer, Bruce Fein, wrote.

But Lonnie G. Snowden hasn't spoken to his son since April, and has no idea whether his son would actually agree to these terms. Nor does the Justice Department seem inclined to consider any conditions to Snowden's apprehension.

His father is holding out hope otherwise.

"I love him, I would like to have the opportunity to communicate with him. I don't want to put him in peril, but I am concerned about those who surround him," Lonnie Snowden said.

The life-long public servant believes that while his son has broken the law, he doesn't "believe he has betrayed the people of the United States."

[Guardian]