National Republican., 1883-03-23
POISONOUS FRENCH WINES
Consul Wilson Fires Volloy Of Stones Into
the Gallo Glass House.
Very Late Report Treating OF Prohibited
Pork and Adulternted Spirits.

"That the unjust prohibition of the impor-
tation of American pork in France writes
Hon. Thomas Wilson, consul at Nantes, to
tho secretary of state, "made as 1t was under
the plea of public health, but in effect pro-
tecting French pork manufacturers, con-
tinued, as IL has been, when every explana-
tion and proof as to healthfulnoss and clean
Illness has been made public, might be fol-
lowed by policy of reprisal by the United
States government against some articles of
French manufacture should not be unex-
pected." He then adds:
This portion of this report is intended to deal
with this question in Its relation TO French wines
and liquors TO show that they have been adulter-
ated, have been made deleterious, II not poison
Gus, and as such exported to foreign countries,the
United States among the rest; ana 4 The policy OF
and liquors. as at present manufactured would
be proper subject The evil effects of adulterated
wines and liquors in France might be compared
with those charged by France to triohinosis in
American pork. The magnitude of the one and
the inslgnifeance ofthe other will be apparent on
moments consideration the
policy of reprisal shall be adopted by the United
States and placed, as was the prohibition Of pork
choice of wines and liquors as its subjects would
seem 10 be justified to such extent as that France
could be estopped from making any complaint.
Tho writer then goes into detailed ac-,
of France for the four years last past, result
ing in II decreased production of from 5000, 900
to 100000 gallons annually yet" he says,
"this has had no perceptible effect on the
quantity of wine drank, the facility with
which it can be obtained, nor the price to bo
paid for it," Attention Is then called to the
fact that, in the face of these oft recurring
crop failures, there has been q material in
crease in the volume of expectations, the
value of French wines sold for export last
year being 50,000,000 francs in excess of the
exports five years previous. How have the
wine merchants of France been able to keep
the supply equal to the demandY he asks;
and in replyto his own question, he writes:
The recuperaliye power of France after one
years war with Germany, aud her ability TO make
the most out of the least, was at once the wonder
and the admiration Of the world, but in the case
OF failure of the wine crop size has shown uneN-
pected reeuperauye power and the ability to con-
been able to accomplish It? 10 solve this eco
nomic problem, which so worried the lsraeltes
during the last years OF their sojourn In Egypt TO
learn this secret of making something out of
nothing and be able to follow their illustrious
example in case the United States should be un-
fortunate enough to lose its crops for continuous
harvests, will surely be worth WHILE
They have imported in large quantities the
cheap heavy wines OF spain and Italy; They have
them, and expressed the Juice, and to these bases
they add alcohol, coloring matter, and water in
nll Imaginable proportions kinds, quantities, and
degrees, and thus they manufacture what they
cal wine sell for wine aud export to the United
States for wine.
Masses of statistics and reports are presented
in support ofthe charge of hagrant and whole
some adulteration of wines sold by France to
other nations, the showing being overwholm-
ing and convincing, and in conclusion he
recommends that congressional action be
taken for the exclusion of French wines and
liquors from American ports.
Mr.. Wilson has also forwarded to tho State
~. a1n Ia
report on the subject of the prohibition of
American pork in France. In his introduc-
tion Mr.. Wilson says:
/ have found certain evidence, consisting of
official communications and reports made by the
chamber of commerce of this city which repre-
sents large pork interest, to the minister of agr
culture and commerce at Paris, which consider
TO be newly discovered aud highly valuable. IL
declares tile Inability of the French pork manu-
tacturers to compete with the like industry of the
United States. II charges their failures to the COM
petition from the United States, and says plainly
tkatif the administration does not desire the dis
appearance of this industry from France, 1t must
aid the pork manufacturers by such action as Will
hinder, IL not prevent the 10 them) detrimental
impurtatons from the United States
i Of course cannot know that II was in answer
to these appeals that the minister Issued tue decree
prohibiting the entry of American pork into
France but it is a fair subject for argument II
this was true II shows that the decree was passed
more in the interest of the pork manufacturers
than for the benefit Of the public health.
He covers the ground thoroughly and gives
with great particularly and evident histori-
cal accuracy an account of the causes which
led to the decree of prohibition By reference
to government trade reports he learns that
ISL 100000 represents the pork and lard COM
merce with France during the eight years
that preceded the issuing Of the prohibitory
decree.
The difference in price in favor of Ameri-
can pork and lard for the same period is
stated by the Nantes chamber of commerce
AT 3169 francs por 100 Kilograms of pork and
40 francs per 100 Kilograms Of lard, so that
Amounts. Francs. Dollars.
1884 $40 Kilograms of pork
at 3l,69 tranes.............. 42050S99 SS4l0,170
1V8O56, l3O Kilograms of lard
at 40 francs......,......... 7O,222i52 1884, 400
Total. ............,..... 12l,57335l "a ,669
These figures show at a glance the differ
ence in price between the American pork and
lard during the period mentioned and the
same amount Of French pork, and show also
upon whom the loss falls, by reason of an Off
cal edict which has shut out competition in
an important article Of diet The French
consumers have paid to the dealers premiums
amounting to more than ls24 100000.
This report of Consul Wilson is one of the
most valuable documents received by the
State department for long while, and IL
will throw flood of needed light ON this
question when congress takes 1t up The de-
partment is "cramming" on this subject, and
when called on next winter it will have q
mass of facts and figures con draught" for the
enlightenment of congress and the country.