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;FeFSECRfl planner~ expected that the survey would show a strong core of internal opposition to' the Castro government, they were to be sadly disappointed. Working with Ita competent Cuban research organization" Free's report was based on a series of a thousand interviews with a cross section of the urban population of Cuba "both in Havana and in other cities, towns, and villages through- out the island." Among the findings of the Free survey, the following comments were included in the summary ' .... report of mid-August of 1960:" The· great majority of Cubans surveyed felt that both they personally and their country were very much better off than during the days of Batista. The prevaiL- ing mood ~as one of hope and optimism. Attesting the apparently genuine en- thusiasm of the great majority for the Revolution, the Castro Government and its program were the replies when the·' sample was asked about the ~orst aspects of life in Cuba today. Despite the fact that' this question was designed to illicit un- favorable comments, a very sizabLe major- ity named as the ~orst aspects of the present situation items which impLied sympathy or support for the present regime. At the top of the list (mentioned by one- third of all respondents) was regret or apprehension over the fact that there is opposition to the Revolution and to the Revolutionary regime; [and] that there are m~sguided counter-revolutionaries and reactionaries. - 223 - TOP ~ECRET