SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                             FORT JAMES CORPORATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Virginia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                1-7911                               54-0848173
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification Number)


               1650 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015-4753
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 317-5000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------




<PAGE>


Item 5. Other Events.

         On  August  31,  2000,  Georgia-Pacific   Corporation  and  Fort  James
         Corporation   issued  a  joint  press  release   announcing   that,  as
         anticipated,  they have received a request from the U.S.  Department of
         Justice  for  additional   information   under  the   Hart-Scott-Rodino
         Antitrust  Improvements  Act regarding the proposed  merger between the
         two companies. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit
         99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) 99.1  Press  release  dated  August  31,  2000,  issued  by  Georgia-Pacific
Corporation and Fort James Corporation - filed herewith.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    FORT JAMES CORPORATION



                                By: /s/ Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        General Counsel and Corporate Secretary



Date:  August 31, 2000
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORT JAMES CORP 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2794}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORT JAMES CORP", "cik": "0000053117", "assigned-sic": "2621", "irs-number": "540848173", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07911", "film-number": "715458"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1650 LAKE COOK RD", "street2": "PO BOX 89", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015", "phone": "8473175000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1650 LAKE COOK RD", "street2": "PO BOX 89", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "JAMES RIVER CORP OF VIRGINIA", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             FORT JAMES CORPORATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Virginia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                1-7911                               54-0848173
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification Number)

               1650 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015-4753
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 317-5000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5. Other Events.

         On  August  31,  2000,  Georgia-Pacific   Corporation  and  Fort  James
         Corporation   issued  a  joint  press  release   announcing   that,  as
         anticipated,  they have received a request from the U.S.  Department of
         Justice  for  additional   information   under  the   Hart-Scott-Rodino
         Antitrust  Improvements  Act regarding the proposed  merger between the
         two companies. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit
         99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) 99.1  Press  release  dated  August  31,  2000,  issued  by  Georgia-Pacific
Corporation and Fort James Corporation - filed herewith.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    FORT JAMES CORPORATION

                                By: /s/ Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Date:  August 31, 2000