The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-27
MR.. CHANCELLOR CORRECTED.
Government Makes Amends for His
Attack ON French Wines.

WASHINGTON. April 26.-The promised
statement from the department of state
touching the report on the French wine
trade, by United States Consul Chancellor
at Hsyre, has been completed and Will
appear In the May number of the United
States consular reports. The department
briefly recalls the fact that Mr.. Chancellor.
in his report Of July "A, 1885, alleged that
much OF the French wine was not the
product of the vineyard and that Is 900
casks Of so-called wine had been destroyed
by the Paris municipal laboratory, having
no grape juice in Ii at all. He had also
alleged that the great deficit in the wine
crop, caused by the phylloxera. had been
made UP from a fluid made Of raisins, cur
rants. lees and such materials. 1t is
stated that NJ. Hanotaux last December
called the attention of our ambassador to
Paris to the fact that the Bordeaux cham
Der of commerce had protested against
the statements OF the consul and that the
Official investigation had called forth de-
NAL from the municipal laboratory that
II had destroyed any such quantity Of
wine.
The statements were referred back to
Mr.. Chancellor, who replied that he had
obtained his Information as to the de.
struction of the 5000 casks of wine from
reliable English Journal. but the name OF
the journal he was unable to recall. While
In Paris In 1887, under commission from the
government of Maryland, he had investi-
gated the wine sheds. and was there told
that large number Of casks would be de-
stroyed. and that this action was not IN
usual.
In support OF a statement that large
quantities of sugar were used In the prep
aration OF wines from lees, Mr.. Chancellor
referred to debates in the chamber. in the
course of which N. Vulcan had protested
against the prohibition of the manufacture
Of this kind OF wine on the ground that IL
caused the consumption OF no less than
10000 tons OF sugar yearly.
Having thus laid down the case and Mr..
Chancellor's defense of his statements, the
state department prints the following
statement, made by the French embassy
here under date OF March last:
1.-The attention OF the French wine mer-
chants has been called 10 u report entitled
'Winemaking in France published in the
Consular Report No. 40, September, 1885,
by G. W. Chancellor, United States consul
at Havre. France. and containing some in
correct statements which might cause
prejudice 10 French commerce. and which
IL seems desirable 10 rectify.
=. Mr.. Chancellor. having probably in
mind the decrease or wine production from
which France suffered during long Pc
riod. says that large quantities OF wine
contain no grape juice Statistical infor-
nation shows that over 100000 acres OF
vineyards were partially injured by the
plague curing the last ~ years. E.DNiWht or
which We're already replanted up to 1885
On the other hand the production OK wine
has been in the last two years exception
ally abundant
=. Mr. Chancellor. referring 20 inforna-
ton published in an English journal and
reproduced n American papers, added that
the French government recently destroyed
.00e casks OF adulterated wines
From an official inquiry IL appears that
there Is no record in the municipal iahOGa-
tory Of Paris Of such destruction. The oc-
casional seizure ard destruction Of small
quantities az aigfltsratei wines are rather
to the honor Of the French government
which thus protects the health Of It's citi-
gems Measures have besides. been taken
Tor the purpose OF prohibiting over-alco-
hoazBtion Of wines and the addition there
20 OF water or Of any element whatever OF
adulteratjon.
1T may be added that according 70
medical inquiries made by highly compe-
tent authority. a moderate consumption
az French wine Is beneficial 70 public
health TIE official statistics in this re-
gard ere worthy OF attention; they show
that drunkenness is less frequent I'm wine
consuming regions out OF 100 cases OF
ruhtfc tfrelr EaflueSs punishable BY the law
os1S-S - cases were recorded in the north
west OF France and "a IN The north where
SPIRITS are mostly consumed. while nine
cases were recorded IN the center. five IN
the southwest and only four IN the south,
who're the use q wine among the laboring
classes Is general"