Harry G. Barnes, Jr.

Who was Harry G. Barnes, Jr.?

Harry George Barnes, Jr, born in St. Paul, Minnesota, was an American diplomat, a former Foreign Service Officer who served as US ambassador to Romania, India and Chile. Between December 22, 1977 and February 8, 1981 he served as Director General of the Foreign Service at the Department of State.

Barnes entered the Foreign Service as consular officer in Bombay, in 1951 and was head of the consular section in Prague in 1953–55. He was publications procurement officer in Moscow in 1957–59. In 1959–62 he was political officer in the Office of Soviet Affairs in the Department of State. He attended the National War College in 1962–63. In 1963–67 he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu. Barnes served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Bucharest in 1968–71. After returning to Washington he served as supervisory personnel officer and deputy executive secretary before being named Ambassador to Romania by Richard Nixon.

Although the American government, in particular Henry Kissinger, had supported the rise of dictator Augusto Pinochet, by 1988 the Chilean people started to campaign against extending his rule. Barnes supported the ultimately successful effort, angering Pinochet, who called him "Dirty Harry."