The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-26
FROM FRANCE
DENIAL OF REPORT THAT FRENCH
WINE Hsls NO GRAPE JUICE.
Exceptions to Hayre COnsuIs State
ment that $4,000 Casks Were
Condemned and Destroyed.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-The promised
statement from the Department of State
touching the report the French wine
trade. by United States Consul Chancellor at
Havre 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, 1895, alleged that much of
the French wine was not the product of the
vineyard and that 5000 casks of so-called
wine had been destroyed by the Paris Mu-
nicipai Laboratory. having not drop of
grape juice in it He 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. Hano-
taux last December called the attention of
our United States ambassador to Paris TO
the fact that the Bordeaux Chamber of
Commerce protested against the statements
of the consul. and that the official investi-
CATION had called forth denial from the
Municipal Laboratory thatSt had destroyed
any such quantity of wine. The statements
were referred back TO Mr.. Chancellor. who
replied that he had obtained his informa-
tion as to the destruction OF the 1000 casks
of wine from a reliable English journal.
but the name of the journal he was unable
to recall. While in Paris in 1887, under
commission from the Governor of Maryland
he had Investigated the wine sheds and was
there told that large number of casks
would be destroyed. and that this action
was not unusual. In support of state
ment that large quantities of sugar were
used in the preparation of wines from lees,
Mr.. Chancellor referred to debates in the
In hA n
jean had protested against the prohibition
OF the manufacture of this kind of wine
on the ground that 1t caused the consump-
tion of no less than 100000 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:
The attention of the French wine mer-
chants has been called to a report entitled
Wine Ma king in France, published in
the consular reports, No. $50, September
1895. by c., w. Chancellor. United States
consul at Havre, France, and containing
some incorrect statements which might
cause prejudice to French commerce and
which IL seems desirable to rectify.
"First-Mr. Chancellor having proba bly,
in mind the decrease of wine production
from which France suffered during a long
period after the appearance of phylloxera
says that large quantities of wine fabri-
Gated in France contain no grape juice.
Statistical information shows that over
infected by the plague during the last
twenty years. 100000 of which were al
ready replanted up to 1895. On the other
the last two years exceptionally abundant
as will be seen by the following official
statement:
Vineyards Total Total Val D..
1895 4i5sooo 600 sisS ssf5eS ist GOO 81 a y
1896 49,. ........ 11s3. .3SS, 600 2s6 $4,000 Ol9
1t is hardly credible that when such enor-
nous quantities of natural wines are pro-
duced, French merchants would resort to
the fabrication OF artificial wines contain
ing no grape juice: such fabrication could
be profitable only in countries producing
wine but little.
"Second-Mr. Chancellor. referring to in
formation published in an English journal
and reproduced I'm American papers added
that the French governmert recently
DESTROYED = leo ISO@ casks OF aoG!terated
it appears that there is no
record at the Municipal Laboratory OF
Paris of such destruction. The occasional
seizure and destruction of small qualities
OF adulterated wines are rather 10 the
honor of the French government. which
thus protects the health OF its citizens.
Measures have besides been taken for the
purpose of prohibiting Decentralization of
wines and the addition thereto of water or
OF any element whatever of adulteration.
1t may be added that according to med
ical inquiries made by highly competent
authority. a moderate consumption of
French wine is beneficial TO public health.
The official statistics in this regard are
worthy or attention. They show that
drunkenness Is less frequent I'm wine con-
Stunning regions. out of one hundred cases
OF pubilc drunkenness, punishable by the
law OF 1910, twenty-nine cases were recorded
in the northwest OF France and thirty-four
In the north. where spirits are mostly con-
sumed, while nine cases were recorded in
the center hVe In the southwest and only
four i'm the south where the use OF vvinss
among the laboring classes is general