FRENCH CHAMPAGNE AREA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1134, 23 May 1911, Page 5

FRENCH CHAMPAGNE AREA.

COMPROMISE SUGGESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht Paris, May 21. In a report submitted to- tho Council of State, M. Charles Blanc recommends that Bar-sur-Aube and Bar-sur-Seinc be ro-includod in the champagne area, enabling those districts to designate their wine products "champagne." On the other hand, with a view to satisfying the growers in the champagne region as recently delimited, M. Blanc recommends that the principal Marno vintages be described as products of "Grand© champagne," and that the wines of the whole of tho enlarged area, be used without restriction for purposes of admixture.

A DIFFICULT POSITION. In a leading article on. th» causes of the recent champagne riots in Prance during which sis million bottles of wine were smashed. "The Times" said:—"The Marne says that its vineyards alone produce true champagne, and demands the .exclusive right to the name. The Aube, and in a'lfcss degree, one or two other Departments, demand the right to sell their produce as true champagne. On both sides the population, from the peasants up to the local magistracy, are prepared to go all lengths in enforcing their local claims. The French Government has tried the impossible. It has granted the demand of the Marne, and has then been scared by the Aube into receding from its position. There is now tho infuriated Marne to deal with, and its outbreak is worse than the other. But, if the Marno gets its way, there will still be tho Aube to deal with, as well as much sympathy for the Aube in other Departments. Had M. Briand been allowed to remain in power it is possible that these deplorable manifestations would have been avoided. He was aivare of the discontent and the fierce commercial rivalry in the agitated Departments, and he had promised to institute an impartial inquiry. He was turned out of office immediately afterwards, and M. Monis neglected to' set' up the promised inquiry. Instead of that, he gave way before disorder in tho Aube, and thus, no doubt suggested to the vine-growers of tho Marne that, if they wanted their own way, they had better resort to disorder in their turn. The situation is now one of extraordinary difficulty. It is only to be hoped that the fierce excitement in the Marne will shortly burn itself out, and that tho process will be accelerated by tho military measures now being taken."