They did not try to cornor the gold market. They asked to be payed in gold at that time because the printing of dollars was getting out of hand. At that time the law said they had the right to be payed in gold. Not to mention that the US told them they would send the bombers in to Viet Nam and then did not. Which they then lost the war they were fighting. They were pissed then and are even more pissed now. Don't forget the US would not exist if it were not for FRANCE.