Indonesian rebels wanted to buy former French warships ccording to the Dutch newspaper Amigoe di Curacao dated 1 March 1958

An item referred to a tiding published by the newspaper Singapore Straits Times which reported that the revolutionary cabinet of Mid Sumatra intended to buy five former French warships lying in Singapore. It were the patrol vessels Gironcourt, Chvaencon and London and the tank landing crafts Bernadette and Jaur. Representatives of the rebels were searching in Singapore for the owners of these aged unrigged warships which were already more  a year lying in Singapore. They were willing to pay in cash. Another Dutch newspaper Friese Koerier dated 1 March confirmed the item and the intention of the Padang cabinet to buy the vessels for 6.000.000 Dutch guilders if the original armament was placed back. If not was the transfer not to be executed. After the war in Indo-China were the vessels a year ago bought by a merchant in Singapore who sold them later to a merchant in Hong Kong. The latter did not reply but it seemed that he did not possessed the armament any longer. All ships were disarmed and also war stores like signalling equipment was removed.