At Hulutao, cautious Admiral Barbey again refused to go ashore because a launch from his flagship was fired upon by several riflemen, supposedly Chinese communists. Then the flotilla repaired to Yingkow, where the Soviets had promised a "guarantee of safety" between October 31 and November 10. Admiral Barbey arrived off Yingkow on November 2, and for several days there were conferences between American staff officers and two Soviet representatives.