The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-27
NAZI JUGGLING UNVEILED IN U. s. WINE COMPANY
By EMILE BASEL

St. Louis, Jan. 27-Nad financial juggling, involving Foreign Minis ter Joachim von Ribbentrop and 8 German wine merchant who was more interested in Mississippi river boats, came to light here recently when the Alien Property Custodian announced that 52 per cent of stock in the American Wine Co. was owned by distinctly un-American interests.
 As @ result of the disclosure, 150,- 900 shares in the wine company will be auctioned off in Chicago, Feb. II. This time, the announcement said, the stock twill be sold to American citizens only"
 German ownership in the winery was revealed by Leo T. Crowley, Custodian of Alien Property, when he placed on the market 135,000 shares of stock purchased by Karl Henkell, head of the huge wine ir1- terests bearing his name, under the guise of bogus Dutch capital. Won Ribbentrop is given credit for han ding the sale of stock to the Vinco Co.,, purportedly a Swiss firm, in reality owned by the Henkells. It is uncertain whether the Nazi Foregin Ministers own money went into the investment. A one time wine sales man, he had married the HenkellS' daughter, Anne, and was power ful member of the firm.
 The American Wine Co.,, an 84- aJ l ,sa fAInV1G- ed by Isacca Cook for the purpose of manufacturing champagne "equal to the best French product" In the opinio of connoisseurs. Cook reached his goal with the famous Cooks Imperial" compared by wine experts to the finest imported vintages. Three specially con- structed subcellars to the winery, where it Is said temperatures never vary more than five degrees, keep the wines at the approved 50 to 55 degrees.
 Harry H. Knight, present head of the company, and other investors acquired the American Wine Go. in 1883. The firm expanded in 1887 and additional common stock was issued. It was during this period that Henkells Vinco Go. offered $1.75 8 share for stock carrying a par value of $1. and bought its 52 per cent controlling interests.
 It was a simple business transac- ton at the time, according to Knight. "The Henkells were in position to supply us with a good deal of technical knowledge and of wine management" He said the re- maining 390 stockholders, of which 325 were St. Louisans, were noti- fled of the sale.
 Karl Henkell visited St. Louis in 1888, the year after he had acquired the American wine stock. Walter J. Knight, structural engineer and designer of streamlined river boats, said that Henkell appeared in his office unannounced one day and, after lengthy conversation about river boats, asked Knight for blue prints of boats he had designed.
 1Ienkell told him, Knight said. that he was president of the Koeln- Dusseldorf Steamship Co.,, operat- ing 50 passenger boats on the Rhine river, and had heard that Knight was preparing designs far in ad- vance of his own boats. Knight showed his German visitor some of his plans, and found that Henkell expected to be given the blueprints as Q gift. Henkell offered to put a Silver plaque in honor of Knight in bach of the boats, saying he was hot permitted actually to pay for Professional talent outside the Reich" Knight declined the 'hon- Dr." and the German left, later repeating his request in writing.
 In 1889, shortly after the out break of European hostilities, the Vinco Go. sold the stock to the Combine Investment Co.,, Dela- ware concern said to have offices n New York, and allegedly repre- senting Dutch capital.
 The Federal government took Dver the Combine Investment Co.'S stock for safeguarding, when Ger many invaded the Low Countries. The Dutch capital" was thorough y investigated and was found to be aenkell and Won Ribbentrop capi- ,al, with the Combine a "cloak for German interests"
 The Foreign Funds Control of- ice, of the St. Louis Federal Re- berve Bank, revealed that the firm 1as operated under supervision and license of the U. s. Treasury De- bartment for the past three years, because the firm was connected with alien interests during war Bime. The Treasury recently re- eased control of the American Wine Co. when the Alien Property Custodian took over.
 Harry H. Knight said he did not believe Won Ribbentrop's money vas involved in the two stock trans fers, despite information revealed 1929 that the Nazi Foreign Min ster had investments totaling sev- eral million dollars outside Ger many, as did other high German officials.