American warships leased to friendly countries according to the Dutch newspaper Amigoe di Curacao dated 22 July 1958

An item reported that the Congress approved a bill allowing the department of navy to loan 43 laid up warships to friendly countries, just president Eisenhower had to sign. Among these ships which leased for a period of 5 years were destroyers, frigates and submarines. Nineteen ships were destined to NATO-countries, 18 to South America and four to Japan, Formosa (Taiwan) and Thailand. Two ships were kept laid up. France was allowed to keep the since 1953 borrowed carrier Belleau Wood longer. She had in fact to be returned already a week earlier.