EXHIBIT 23.1

                      CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                              One Champion Plaza
                              Stamford, CT  06921


                                        March 29, 1999


Champion International Corporation
One Champion Plaza
Stamford, CT  06921

Dear Sirs:

     As Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Champion International
Corporation (the "Company"), I advise you as follows in connection with legal
and administrative claims and proceedings which are pending or known to be
threatened against the Company.

     I call your attention to the fact that, as Senior Vice President and
General Counsel of the Company, I have general supervision of the Company's
legal affairs.  In such capacity, I have reviewed litigation and claims
threatened or asserted involving the Company and have consulted with outside
legal counsel with respect thereto where I have deemed it appropriate.

     There are currently no material legal or administrative claims or
proceedings pending or known to be threatened against the Company.

     I hereby consent to the reference to this opinion in the Company's Annual
Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
(the "Form 10-K"), and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form
10-K.
 
                                             Very truly yours,



                                             /s/ Stephen B. Brown
                                             Senior Vice President
                                             and General Counsel