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Background: The French Council of Ministers - ruling body of the Fifth Republic - met under President de Gaulle Aug 24 for the first time since the Summer recess. The meeting, normally of a routine matter of reconvening, tackled two problems; the break-up of the Mali Federation and the raising of French family allowances.

President de Gaulle and Prime Minister Michel Debre reported on the split of the two-month old Federation between the former French colonies Sudan and Senegal. A communique afterwards said the French Government "acknowledged recent events in the Federation," and a spokesmen later added this meant it acknowledge the Senegalese Government's decision to secede and seek independence.

It was also announced after the Ministerial Council meeting that family allowances would be raised by five per-cent from Aug 1 following recent rises in bread and transport prices. Unemployment indemnities would also go up.

Arriving at the meeting were: Mr. Michelet (Justice), Pierre Sudreau (Construction), Luis Joxe (Education), Maurice Bokanowski (Post Office), Louis Terrenoire (Information), Mr. Lecourt (formerly of Coordination of French Community), Pierre Chalenet (Interior), Roger Frey (Minister-Delegate for Community), Bernard Chenot (Health), Mlle. Sid Cara (Moslem Affairs), Mr. Jacquinot (Scientific Research), Giscard D'Estaing (Secretary of State for Finance), Robert Burou (Transport), Henry Rochercau (Agriculture), Jean Foyez (Secretary of State, Wilfred Baurgartner (Finance) to Community.)