WASHINGTON -- Days after Pope John Paul II denounced the U.S. embargo of Cuba as ``ethically unacceptable,'' supporters of tough American sanctions are preparing a plan to send federal food aid to Cuba for the first time in 40 years.

The proposal, being drafted by aides to Sen. Jesse Helms with input from the Cuban American National Foundation, would require that the aid be distributed to the island's truly needy by the American Red Cross -- a condition that may prove unacceptable to Cuban President Fidel Castro.

The Clinton administration has tentatively voiced interest in the proposal.

``It sounds like an idea that merits consideration,'' said Lula Rodriguez, deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs. ``We look forward to an opportunity to talk to the sponsors.''

Advocates of the plan say it's a shrewd political maneuver that will deprive Castro of the argument that U.S. economic pressure is to blame for Cubans' suffering. Even if Castro rejects American aid, they say, the United States will gain ground in the battle of public opinion.

Foes of the 36-year-old embargo say the proposal being worked up by Helms' staff underlines the pope's assertion that ordinary Cubans, not the Castro government, are bearing the brunt of the trade ban.

They also say the proposal shows that hard-liners are worried about another bill pending before Congress that would lift restrictions on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba. That legislation has won the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and such prominent Republicans as Sen. John Warner of Virginia and Rep. James Leach, chairman of the House Banking Committee.

Under the Helms proposal, the government aid, which would be earmarked under the 1954 ``food for peace'' program, would be combined with private donations -- already allowed under current law -- and shipped to Cuba for distribution ``to the neediest people, especially political prisoners and their families,'' according to a draft outline of the bill obtained by The Herald.

Marc Thiessen, spokesman for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Helms chairs, declined to discuss details of the proposal Tuesday, except to say that he was conferring with exile leaders. He was reached by telephone in Cuba, where he is traveling with Roger Noriega, Helms' adviser on Latin American affairs.

``We've been talking with the [Cuban-American] community, and the community has been talking about ways to capitalize on the pope's visit,'' Thiessen said.

Witness to plenty

He denied that the visit had prompted a change of heart on the embargo. In Cuba, he said, he has seen ``pharmacies stocked with medicines [and] bakeries overflowing with bread,'' but only for customers with U.S. dollars.

Asserting that only Castro is to blame for shortages of food and medicine, Thiessen said, ``There will be no initiative that in any way loosens the embargo. The embargo is locked in, here to stay.''

The Cuban American National Foundation declined to comment Tuesday but plans to hold a press briefing later this week, spokeswoman Mariela Ferretti said.

In 1996, Congress passed Helms' first initiative on Cuba, the Helms-Burton Act, which sought to deter foreign investment in Cuba by exposing foreigners to U.S. lawsuits or the possibility of losing U.S. tourist visas.

Supporters and critics of the new Helms proposal said it appears to contain one or more ``poison pills,'' or conditions that would make it unacceptable to Castro. They noted that Castro has never allowed the American Red Cross to operate in Cuba and would be unlikely to accept delivery of aid from a U.S. vessel, which by law must transport such aid.

Several congressional sources said the Helms plan is an effort to outflank supporters of legislation by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Esteban Torres, D-Calif., that would lift the ban on the sale of U.S. food and medicine to the island. U.S. law currently allows donation of food to Cuba and sale of medicine and medical supplies only if they are distributed through nongovernmental groups and their ``end use'' can be verified.

Alternative plan

``You always want to give [members of Congress] something to vote for,'' said a Democratic aide who supports strong sanctions against Cuba. ``We're looking at [the Helms plan] as a sensible alternative to address humanitarian concerns without giving in'' to Castro.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who opposes the embargo, said the pontiff's criticism of it is causing many Americans to rethink the policy of economic pressure.

Administration officials counter that the United States already leads the world in humanitarian aid to Cuba, having licensed more than $1 billion in all types of private donations, including food, since 1992.