" May 15.1878 was days the chosen for meeting between Martínez Campos and Antonio Maceo . The English had chosen the date and time to just a month of Zanjón and the Cuban had the last word in terms to and place to number of delegates of each part. The general expectation of Cuban side was that Maceo had decided not give . Maceo wanted take a decision collegial and not personal, it by requested that to the troops of Holguín, Guantánamo , Tunas Jiguaní and that come to Palmarito , a people close to Baraguá . Since the 15 days had received in his camp the most of the commanders of the troops that were the jungle : Manuel Calvar , Donato Marble , Flor Crombet , Pedro Martínez Freire, Ríus Rivera, José Lacret , Ferdinand Socarrás Figueredo, Belisario Grave of Peralta , José Maceo , Vicente García and " Payito" León. Early by the morning , began the way a horse to Baraguá in silence; camped in a forest almost impenetrable of trees of mango, full of fruit or yellow fruits emerging. Maceo , Calvar , Figueredo and Rius put their hammocks in a small clear , by where expected to arrive the English . All the eyes were fixed in the west side of clear , by where expected to arrive the English . In some twenty minutes , the explorers announced the presence of Martinez Campos, who was received with all the honors by the Cuban . Along the flat more of the Cuban were some Cuban leaders of the old or already retired , who he had order to Maceo the honor of accompany during the difficult negotiations ; there were among other few , Prendergast, Morales of the Rivers and Cassola ; of side of Martínez Campos all the officers were brigadier or general lieutenants. Martínez Campos came in mounted a horse Moor precious, so black that have seemed flashes blue . The first that said to was removed "Who of PC.'s Antonio Maceo ?" Maceo is identified and presented to all the official of their courtship . They repeated the same with the of Martínez Campos and all is to then sat in the hammocks. "
" Martínez Campos began the talks showing to Maceo a anonymous letter that had received days the above, which said that Maceo assassinate him . Maceo said: Although both were of agreement in come with no more of official 15, meeting very rare that you. is feel insecure , having moved a English squad of cavalry to of least 300 meters of here. "
" To be account that the men Maceo of he had followed the track from that came of San Luis, the north of Santiago, Martínez Campos sat is and smiled. General Polavieja , chief military English of area, is sat next to . Martinez Campos was of medium stature with myopic eyes and look alert. His face was something burned by the sun, cut to half by a dramatic white mustache that complemented a pleasant face . Polavieja , by another part , had a look vulgar, dominated the face by a dusty beard that covered a sordid expression, just capable of hide their disgust to have that be in the presence of Cuban troops of and its General. "
" Al start the conversation , Martínez Campos tried of be polite. tried of praise to Maceo to indicate that not be had given account that this was so young. Maceo not be left by impress those praise, particularly because Martínez Campos be referred or a single Once he to as "General" or to the mambises as a " army" Cuban . "
" The meeting was polite but each side completely firm in their points of view. Martínez Campos began his speech announcing that Vicente Garcia had accepted the Covenant of Zanjón and is had surrendered . Maceo he said that of the same way that the English had positioned a squadron of cavalry 300 meters the squad such and place the where they were , was completely surrounded by troops under the control Major General Vicente García . "
" Martinez Campos tried to appeal need of peace and prosperity for all the Cuban saying: enough of struggles and sacrifices ; and you have to impressed all with your determination and tenacity . has come the time of to join in Spain the way the prosperity of and of the civilized behavior . "
" Maceo said: Only independence is acceptable . P or please beware their explanations. "" From there followed a tension. "
" Martínez Campos then tried to convince Maceo to of that he not know well the terms of and Zanjón asked him to Polavieja that got a copy of document. The response of Maceo was tell you is not worry of to read what they already knew , that not want nothing of this and compromise that the Cuban were certain to reject . "
" Martínez Campos he said : So ... we do not understand ?. " The response was terse :" Exactly ... we do not understand . "
" The English in a last effort by save the negotiation , asked him Maceo to if could go to the Cuban troops to explain the document; Maceo said he that much with taste, always that he could go to the English troops to urge them to desert. After of this suggestion Martínez Campos be put very annoying . "
" much time you need to return to their positions? "Asked Martínez Campos.
" Eight days " said Maceo. " will resume the hostilities the 23 days."
"This that , Maceo ended the meeting. Martínez Campos be mounted furious at his horse and rode moving away from area, leaving to Polavieja behind, alone. "
(Fragment taken of the magnificent work entitled " Baraguá " of Mr. Raúl Eduardo Chao , university professor, engineer and Cuban historian who lives in Miami and Paris. has also published " Boatswain " , that covers the stay of Carlos Manuel Cespedes of in Paris between the years 1841 and 1844 .)
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