British Hold Ex-U.S. Officer as Soviet Spy

A retired U.S. Navy commander was arraigned today on spying charges under Britain’s Official Secrets Act.

John Bothwell, 59, who authorities said retired from the Navy 22 years ago and had worked for an unnamed U.S. intelligence agency for 10 years, was accused of preparing to divulge information to a foreign power--reportedly the Soviet Union.

Bothwell, tanned and gray-haired, smiled at his wife in the public gallery as he entered Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London. He wore a checked blazer and carried a copy of Robert Graves’ novel, “I, Claudius.”

Bothwell was charged with violating Section 7 of Britain’s 1911 Official Secrets Act. He entered no plea at a 15-minute hearing and was ordered held for one week pending further hearing.

Admits ‘Relationship’

Press Assn., Britain’s domestic news agency, reported that Bothwell allegedly admitted to police in a lengthy statement that he had had a “relationship” with the Soviet Union over the last 10 years and had operated legally as a middleman in trade deals between the Soviet Union and South Africa.

Detective Supt. Hilton Cole of Scotland Yard’s Special Branch told the court that Bothwell was arrested Sunday while trying to leave Britain after receiving a coded telephone call.

An investigator said Bothwell had two U.S. passports, one of which was found in the cellar of his Bath home, and is believed to have a Canadian passport available as well. Bothwell admitted to police that he had provided a passport-size photograph of himself to Soviet representatives, the investigator said.

The formal charge alleged that “on or before Feb. 16, 1986, he did an act preparatory to the commission of an offense, under the (Official Secrets) Act, by making arrangements for the communication to a person of information to be, or likely to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy.”