Thank you, this helps and clears up my confusion. I just couldn't imagine this kind of an event, a warship loading this much gold, not triggering some media commentary, even mockery or criticism to defend the US establishment.

> Ultimately, De Gaulle abandoned the Colbert plan, and French gold returned from the United States in small quantities.

So I think the story about the warship got twisted from a plan or threat to "it actually happened". Doing it in small quantities over a few years was the right way, indeed. Looking back it seems like it didn't make many waves in the news at the time, so Giscard was absolutely right.