New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-26
THE FRENCH WINE TRADE.
STATEMENTS MADE BY THE AMERICAN
CONSUL AT HAVRE CORRECTED.

CONSUL AT HAVRE CORRECTED.
Washington April 25.-The promised statement
from the Department OF State touching the report
on the French wine trade by Mr.. Chancellor, the
United States Consul at Havre has been completed
aud 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, 1895. alleged
that much of the French wine not the product
of the vineyard and that 15OC0 casks OF so-called
wine had been destroyed by the Paris municipal
laboratory having not drop Of grape Juice in II.
lie had also alleged that the great deficit In the
wine crop caused by the phylloxera had been made
up from fluid made of raisins. currants. lees and
such materials. 1t is stated that NJ Hanotaux last
December called the attention of our Ambassador
TO Paris the fact that the Bordeaux Chamber of
Commerce had protested against tho statements OF
the Consul and that the official investigation had
called forth denial from the municipal laboratory
that it had destroyed any such quantity Of wine
The statements referred back TO Mr.. Chan
ceor who replied that he had obtained his infor-
nation to the destruction OF 1900 casks of wine
, from a reliable English Journal, but the name Of
the journal he unable TO recall. While In
Paris In 1857, under commission from the Governor
OF Maryland, he had Investigated the wine sheds
and was there told that a number of casks would
be destroyed. and that this action not unusual.
In support of statement that large quantities OF
sugar were used IN the preparation of wines from
lees. Mr. Chancellor referred to debates in the
Chambers. in the of which NJ. Vulcan had
protested against the prohibition of the manu-
facture of this kind of wine. the ground that 1t
caused the consumption Of less than 10000 tons Of
sugar yearly
Having thus laid down the and Mr. Chan
cellors defence of his statements, the State De-
partmcnt prints tie following statement, made by
the French Embassy here under date OF March s
last:
The attention OF the French wine merchants has
been called TO a report entitled Wine Making in
$50. September. 1895 by c. W Chancellor United
States Consul at liayre. France and containing
prejudice to French commerce and which it seems
desirable to rcctfy.
% Mr.. Chancellor having probably In mind the
decrease OF wine production from which France
suffered during long period after the appearance
OF phylloXcra, says that large quantities OF wine
fabricated in France contain no grape juice. Stais-
Vineyards We're partially infected by he aG pas Ts
during the last twenty years 100000 OF which
hand the production OF wine has been in the last
Two year; exceptionally abundant, as Will be seen
10y the following official statement:
VINEYARDS Total Average
I Isss .....4,i55co Iis'sss. slss lsS$" ~
1919 ------- l,lS3ssvo 2s6,S0,0O 0l9
1t is hardly credible that when such enormous
quantities Of natural wines are produced. French
merchants would resort TO the fabrication Of arti-
ton could be profitable only in countries producing
no wine or but little.
90 Mr.. Chancellor, referring 10 Information pun
lished in IN English journal and reproduced after.
ward f. American papers. added that the French
Government recently destroyed 1900 casks OF
adulterated wines.
From official inquiry It appears that there Is
no record at the municipal laboratory OF Paris OF
such destruction. The occasional seizure and de-
struction small quantities OF adulterated wines
are rather - the honor OF the French Government,
which thus protects the health OF Its citizens. Meas
ures have. besides. been taken for the purpose OF
prohibiting STANDARDIZATION OF wines and the
addition thereto OF water or OF any element what
ever Of adulteration
I, roa,, no added that according to medical in
auiries made by highly competent authority.
moderate consumption OF French wine Is beneficial
10 Dubl,c health. The official statistics In this
gard are worthy OF attention: they show that
drunkenness Is less frequent In wine-consumng
regions Out OF 100 OF public drunkenness,
punishable by the law OF 1879, twenty nine cases
we're recorded In the northwest OF France and thr-